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.
It’s time to reevaluate our SOPs, eliminate insular groups, and see traditions as an honor, not an anchor
With fewer recruits and rising retirements, departments like East Hartford are turning to costly overtime and mutual aid to cover growing staffing gaps
Fire departments across New York will open their doors for the 14th annual RecruitNY Weekend, recruiting new volunteers through community connections
New Hope FFs followed their chief and resigned over what they call a hostile work environment and an order to return from a mutual-aid call
The Town of Watertown asks the City of Watertown for fire assistance while the town becomes a combination FD
“I have less people to do more work” Waterford Fire Chief Kevin Hafemann said about finances and low career and volunteer staffing
Goldfeder sounds off: “I’m sick and tired of volunteers quitting because it’s not PERFECT”
Investigators are looking for the cause of the Broadway fire that killed 3 adults, 2 young boys
In the Glen Falls timeline, the first paid firefighters started work in 1903 working 10 days on and 1 day off
Before she could even speak the language after immigrating to America, the wife of the junior Pennsylvania senator dreamed of joining the fire service
Marrowbone Assistant Fire Chief Brian Belcher was known as the kind of volunteer always trying to serve others
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
