That said, it ’ s not something that everyone can undertake. It takes a big distribute of forcible stamen and mental strength to make this kind of commitment .
Do you have what it takes to be a volunteer fireman ?

Whatever capacity you choose to become involved in with your local volunteer fire department, it will most likely be one of the most rewarding experiences of your life. (Photo/John Buckman III)
As a volunteer firefighter, you’ll be expected to:
- Keep a clear head in life-or-death situations.
- Maintain your composure when assisting in traumatic events, like auto crash injuries and fatalities.
- Put yourself in extreme situations, such as going into burning buildings, crawling through tight spaces and entering other hazardous environments.
Most volunteer arouse departments want you to devote a minimal sum of fourth dimension to service, thus create sure you have time in your agenda and the tractability to make that work. It besides means that you must have the time to devote to the necessity fireman trail course. The length of the train can vary by submit and the level of documentation required — a Firefighter I certification may take six months of attending course two to three days per week.
You must besides commit to staying in good physical condition to maintain the stamina to perform the necessary firefighting tasks. Eat veracious, drill, and reduce or eliminate habits that can adversely affect your health, like tobacco and alcohol use .
here are three specific steps to take to become a volunteer fireman .
Step 1: Contact your local volunteer fire department
The beginning step should constantly be to make sure that there is a necessitate .
During your call or visit, ask questions about the process so you understand what to expect as you become a tennessean fireman.
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- If there isn’t a volunteer fire station in your community, check out surrounding areas.
- Some fire departments do have residency restrictions, so ask about those in your call.
- Call the non-emergency number to avoid tying up the fire dispatcher.
- Many fire stations will welcome you to drop in if they’re not busy.
- Some fire departments let you ride along with them, or tour their station to give you firsthand experience working in fire safety.
- They can also direct you to the proper authorities to help you get signed up.
Step 2: Applying to be a volunteer firefighter
once you ’ ve found the justly volunteer fire department, you ’ ll want to find out their requirements for serve to see if you qualify. The standards vary widely, but they all have a minimum age necessity. You can expect :
- A background check to see if you have anything in your history that would prevent you from becoming a volunteer firefighter.
- Clearance by a doctor or a physical ability test; some fire departments require both.
- A full application process, usually including a drug test. (This is typically for fire departments controlled by a municipal government.)
Step 3: Training to be a volunteer firefighter
If your application is approved, the future step in becoming a volunteer fireman is to take the trail course. The time necessity of these programs varies, but all firefighters must take a minimum 110-hour NFPA -certified naturally .
Becoming a member of a tennessean fire post is more than preparing to fight ardor. other functions and responsibilities that you can volunteer to help with at your local fire department include :
- Fundraising
- Office work
- Maintaining and cleaning equipment
- Dispatching and washing vehicles
While this may not be equally glamorous as fighting fires, all are an important separate of running a volunteer fuel department.
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many departments offer EMS and encourage members to earn EMS certifications. Being an EMT prior to applying to the station will boost your odds of acceptance in many cases .
Whatever capacity you choose to become involve in with your local volunteer fire department, it will most probable be one of the most reinforce experiences of your life .
This article was updated May 20, 2020 .