Volunteer Fire Service
Volunteer firefighters provide fire suppression, rescue and emergency medical services in communities of all sizes. Volunteer firefighters, motivated to help others and serve their community, balance training and service with jobs and family obligations. Learn more about latest volunteer fire service news, access FireRescue1 training resources and explore funding and recruitment resources for volunteer fire departments.
FireRescue1 readers share when they joined, what “ready” really means, and why leadership, mentoring and mental health support matter
The Mountain Lake Fire Company says staffing shortages and an ongoing conflict with Liberty Township officials left the department unable to respond to a call for the first time
FASNY officials say New York has lost a third of its volunteer firefighters in the past two decades, prompting the association to roll out a volunteer optimization legislative initiative
Niagara County law will also give the tax break for life to members with 20 years of service to help increase recruitment and retention
Where to begin when shifting away from a fundraising-dependent model
Aberdeen firefighters saw the fire in the distance and called for a second alarm
Supporters of the new law believe it will improve recruitment and retention of volunteers
“The FEMA people said they’d never been treated so well or eaten food as good as they had here,” Wren Firefighter Cheryl Mays said
Aging fire trucks and a cancelled contract have forced firefighters to sometimes respond in an SUV
7 FDs will use the FEMA grant to recruit and equip as many as 80 firefighters over the next 4 years
21 volunteer fire departments in the Capital Region Firefighter Recruitment Campaign are aiming to recruit 200 firefighters by 2025
When Collin West was asked why he set the fires, he told investigators that his grandmother disliked the properties and wanted them burned
Turtle Creek Firefighter Michael McAllister heads to the Los Angeles Rams’ rookie camp this week
As chief, Troy Cailler hired Sabattus’ first full-time firefighters, used grants to buy new equipment and secured funds for a new station
Departments have hosted open houses and hope to attract new hires and volunteers
A leader’s success is often on the shoulders of so many supporters
Captain Roy L. Sewell Jr., a former Cub Scout, is fondly remembered as a supporter of the local pack
Chester T. Lauck served with Frederick County Fire and Rescue and several other area agencies plus the Air National Guard
Fred Fedeler, 67, was a volunteer with the Chester Fire Department
ATCEMS performed multiple water rescues, and a volunteer firefighter in Oklahoma activated tornado warning sirens
Daniel Keener said he used his role as Bethany Pike VFD treasurer to divert funds, which he spent on concert tickets, credit card payments and jewelry
Officer Trevor Abney was ambushed and shot below the left eye, leaving him blinded in that eye and with a .40-caliber bullet lodged in his brain
“This is a tremendous loss to the community,” the Upper Perkiomen Valley Ambulance wrote about Jay Miles
Chief Joshua Vance said Christopher Lee Linn showed up at scenes, then joined the Wharncliffe VFD on a provisional basis and was not to go on calls
Minton “Butch” Beach previously served as director of emergency services for Edgecombe County
“You, chief, were expected to set the standard, and you let this department and our community down,” said Cohanzie Director of Fire Services Michael Howley
Seeking state legislators’ support, FASNY president Edward Tase Jr. described staffing issues and the effects of hospital closures
“Our hearts are broken,” said both the VDOF and the Haysi Volunteer Fire Department, where Rocky S. Wood served as chief
The Manchester-by-the-Sea Fire Department has been without a crew since last summer
Paul Cloutier served with Webster Fire/Rescue and volunteered with the Muddy Brook Fire Department
Florence Fire Rescue Engineer-EMT Kevin Darby and his family have received more than $3,700 in donations
Volunteer leaders must dare to do something different in the recruitment and retention of fire department members
Kathy Hochul’s budget also includes a bill that would let municipalities and fire companies pay volunteers for responses to calls and completion of training