Ways to volunteer with your fire department
Fire departments, especially small and rural ones, run on volunteers. Not every volunteer fights fire. There is a way to help that fits almost anyone's skills and time.
Firefighting
Train with your local crew and answer fires, crashes, rescues and, in many departments, medical calls. No experience needed: departments train the people they accept.
EMS and EMTs
Help neighbors in a medical emergency, often without fighting fire. A good start for anyone heading into nursing, paramedic work or medicine.
Support roles
Keep equipment and stations in shape, the books in order and the community informed, without going on emergency calls.
Offer help
Give a skill or a few hours once, or now and then, or make a donation. Many volunteer fire departments are nonprofits with limited funds.
Before you apply
- What it's like to volunteer.
- Requirements and training, and the time it takes.
- All the volunteer roles, from driver to cadet.
- Departments recruiting now, or find yours in the directory.
- Questions about volunteering.