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 fire station I’ve been at for the past 10 years is gone. I mean, it looks like just something out of a movie,” said Hughes Springs Paramedic Justin Riehemann
“He told me that if it had been five more minutes, he doesn’t think he would have made it,” said Sumrall Volunteer Fire Chief Virginia Hayes
Limited staffing calls for being efficient in planning, training and member skills
If the department shuts down, employees who handle fire grants would be furloughed
The chief, who is also the soccer coach, started CPR and revived the boy; he was taken to the hospital and will be OK
Firefighter Randy Hiti was a 26-year veteran with the department; cause of death is unknown
He has been volunteer firefighter for 15 years and has helped fight many major fires
Officials on both sides are arguing over whether First Nation had adequate funding to provide fire protection or if the federal government was negligent
The death of a firefighting student during an ice-rescue exercise raises “many disturbing questions that must be answered”
The loaded gun was located in a dresser drawer and discharged from exposure to heat from the fire
He stole raffle items from weekly fundraisers and cash from the fire department’s vending machines
The fire safety house will teach kids how to react to fire; the smoke alarms will be given free to low-income households
While unknown whether firefighters could have prevented the children’s deaths, the tragedy highlights gaps in fire protection on reserves
The truck will help increase efficiency in fighting fires for their spread out region
The chief and Capt. Gene Shealy set six specific goals; read them below to help recruit and retain volunteers at your department
The death of a Canadian firefighter trainee raises serious issues about how to improve firefighter safety at privately operated training classes
The fire truck sustained minor damage; the firefighter in her POV was taken to the hospital
The fire chief brought back the program, which had fizzled for lack of interest, to give his four boys something positive to do
The volunteer departments need donations and grants to survive
Some want even tougher requirements that industry representatives say would be prohibitively costly
The death knell has sounded for many a good-intentioned resolution; here are promises to improve your career that you can and should keep
Cardiac-related incidents remain a leading cause of firefighter death and injury. Here are 10 things all firefighters can do in five key areas to improve their heart health
Once the glamour wears off, and reality sets in, it’s not for everyone
Damage to front-end bun and windshield shattered of iconic 27-foot long hot dog on wheels
Assistant Chief R.G. Bidwell, 72, served with the department for 30 years before retiring 15 years ago
Black smoke could be seen rising from some of the tanker cars; one of the explosions sent a fireball at least 300 feet into the air
More than 20 fire department rescue units spent nearly an hour and a half trying to extract the worker from the trench
The firefighters in the station were getting colds more often; it’s the second station to have a mold problem
Kenneth Stanton, 52, was directing traffic around the crash site; he died as a result of head trauma
Their injuries were listed as serious, but prognosis for both is good
The 25-year-old former volunteer firefighter is charged with one count of arson
A nearby church cooked a full meal and donated $430 as a way to say ‘thank you’
Because both are firefighters, they know how to support each other after tough calls