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.
The Harmonville Fire location’s redo will accommodate more firefighters, a bigger apparatus, a meeting space and a diesel exhaust system
Firefighter Kevin May served in the Westwood Volunteer Fire Department for 11 years and was the station’s Santa Claus each year
A Gardner Lake Volunteer Fire Company firefighter described belittlement and other mistreatments; a town employee alleged sexual harassment
A recent humanitarian-aid trip to build a fire department from scratch shows what a community can accomplish
The mayor and fire chief said the incident should be handled by the state instead of the town’s police department
Brian Johnston, 65, was one year shy of celebrating 50 years with the service
Gus Losleben was driving a fire truck to a house fire when he collided head-on with the log truck
The firefighter was transported to a hospital; his condition is unknown but he is conscious
He was climbing up a fire hose when his foot got caught on something and he fell backward, landing on an air pack strapped to his back
Firefighter Edwin “Jeff” Wenztel, a 35-year veteran of the department, was struck and killed by a train searching for a missing woman
Daniel Callaway, 31, is in stable condition after stopping to assist a motorist on the highway; an investigation is underway
The judge ruled there were too many inconsistencies with the testimonies to find the firefighter guilty beyond a reasonable doubt
Brad Welch raced across a parking lot from his home, started a fire engine and extinguished the flames after hearing a panicked radio call
They didn’t alert deputies and firefighters responding to the house fire that a man at the home threatened to shoot arriving responders
The charge was enhanced to a first-degree felony, punishable by five to 99 years or life in prison because he has a prior felony conviction
Patrick Kneisley, 23, is being charged with arson, malicious burning and destruction of property
The fire was set by two former volunteer firefighters who were feuding with another volunteer inside the station
Chief Julius Hatfield is under investigation for fraud and has recently come under fire for making racist remarks at the scene of a car accident
Ralph “Mike” Cobb, 60, had a long battler with cancer; he is survived by his wife and son
Former firefighter Todd Bruning claims he was fired after he complained about wasteful spending
As the career-volunteer fire department model gains popularity, here are some of the leadership pitfalls and how to avoid them
The lessons from a literal assassination in November 1963 hold wisdom for overcoming the fire service’s figurative leadership assassinations
The first of its kind treatment program caters to the unique stresses and needs of emergency responders
He fell onto a small section of roof when the external stairs gave way; he was treated and released
There’s real science showing how to measure and improve emotional intelligence, and that it is a key to good leadership — especially in the fire service
When holiday celebrations go wrong, we get the call; follow these tips for safe and effective responses this season
The suit claims it took 8 minutes to dispatch fire crews to the correct location, resulting in one fatality
Several fire departments responded; a hazmat unit was on standby due to ammonia on site
The 55-year veteran volunteer firefighter suffered a heart attack on Nov. 18 and died today
The fire began in the garage; no one was seriously injured
The chief was disciplined for not getting a council purchase order to buy turnout gear with all fire grant money
The chief caught making racist remarks about black victims is under investigation for fraud and abuse of public trust
The issues center around the chief’s disciplining a firefighter and a grievance filed with the council