Do you what it TAKES?

Firefighters

What does it mean to be a volunteer firefighter or EMS provider? 

For some it is a way to give back to the community, others a way into a paid job, and others a way to meet friends. 

It’s responding night and day to any number of emergencies. It’s the challenge of remembering how to cut apart a car or gain access to a burning home. It’s seeing your fellow humans at their worst and looking to you to help them through an event that will be last forever in their memory. 

To be a volunteer firefighter in California you will be required to become certified in Firefighter I. 

Traditionally, all training and firefighting equipment are paid for by the fire agency. Some pay for, or reimburse the cost for emergency medical technician (EMT) training. The majority of fire departments in California train to the Firefighter I standard. You will be provided this training as a volunteer.

Firefighter I  allows you to:  

  • Enter a live burning structure without direct supervision
     

To reach Firefighter I: 

  • Receive 80 hours of training in six to twelve months
  • Attend training in CPR, Haz Mat Awareness and Operations, Blood and Air
  • Born pathogens
  • Learn sections of fire suppression that teach the guidelines of the Occupation Safety Health Association, Department of Health, EMS and Trauma
  • Learn the Department of Public Safety Standards and Training (DPSST)  relevant to firefighting and the delivery of emergency medical services
Time requirements 

The hours you dedicate are dependent on the number of calls your local agency responds to and their training structure. Many departments are involved in a number of civic and fundraising activities. Some agencies respond to thousands of calls per year while others only 50. Large or small you are part of a much larger group, the CSFA.  

To learn where your local emergency agency is located or for more information on volunteering select the Join Now option.

 

Join Now