On a recent Sunday morning, volunteer firefighters stood in a loose semicircle outside the Ship Bottom Firehouse between training evolutions. Behind them, the bay doors opened to the quiet street; ahead loomed the summer swell of tourists – and the calls that will send them running toward danger.

“We’ve been doing this all weekend so that when we’re in that position (of waiting for backup), we can perform by ourselves for as long as possible,” said Trent Stanfield, a rookie with the Ship Bottom…