Admissions

You are probably wondering what is required to get started with your role as a Volunteer Fire Fighter. Great! Let’s dig into that a bit more. Here is the high-level road map you will perform over the next 4 months.

1. Introduce yourself to our members
2. Perform various history, health, and background checks
3. Get voted in to start your 90-day probation period
4. Probation period reviewed and voted in as a member

Introduce yourself

The first step is to come to the monthly EFD members meeting and introduce yourself!

• Introduce yourself to the members (active firefighters, board members, command staff, etc.)
• Tell us why you want to become a volunteer firefighter
• Explain any pertinent experience you have that will help you perform this job
• Let us know how far from the station you live – this impacts your possible response time
• Fill us in on the various components of your life that may impact your ability to do this job

Fill out paperwork and perform various checks

Next you will start your paperwork, understand more about what is required as a firefighter, and get various checks performed.

• Pass a DPS criminal history background check
  • Don’t be sneaky! We work with ALL of the law enforcement departments and they run their own checks on us repeatedly while working with them.
• Pass a basic physical health check performed by your doctor
• Have a clean driving record
• Fill out basic department paperwork

Voted in by the membership to start your probation

Now that you have volunteered and passed all of your background checks, you will go in front of the membership once again. The recruiting officer will tell everyone about any information that has been discovered during your background checks and while interacting with you. Based on that information you will be asked to leave the room while we quickly vote on your probation.

Your probation period starts! (VERY EXCITING)

If you are voted in – your 90 day probation period starts that evening. You will receive your firefighting gear, and be made ready to start attending calls after the monthly meeting. You could take a call right then! (happened to me!)

During your probation period and while performing duties as a firefighter with EFD – you are expected to make at least 10% of the total number of calls for any given month. If the department receives 100 calls (about what we average), you are expected to have made at least 10 calls for that month. This is measured across 3 months by quarter. As long as you are averaging 10% of calls for the quarter you are good to go.

Obviously, as a probationary firefighter, don’t do the minimum! You have a lot to learn. You will be expected to learn the EFD bylaws (how we govern ourselves) as well as our SOG’s (stand operating guidelines). You should become familiar with what each truck is used for, its primary mission and its secondary mission. You should become familiar the order different trucks are dispatched to different types of events. Start to learn the basic firefighting tools and ways to be safe on a scene. Learn how to manage traffic flow. Take as many online courses as you can watch youtube to learn the lingo.

Download the Essentials 7 app which will help you study for your firefighter 1 and 2 certifications and understand how to fight a fire.

Also download some weather apps so that you know what sort of weather you are facing and what sorts of issues may come up on any given day. SNOW? Lots of crashes. Dry with high winds? Lots of grass fires possible. Really cold? Might catch a structure fire from the heather being run full blast for the first time that season.

Get to know the chain of command know who is performing which roles. Apply respect to each role. Listen more than you speak. Ask lots of questions. Ask for help. Ask for additional training sessions. We are all volunteer…but we are all pulling to add an additional hard working and contributing firefighter to our ranks!

Probation time is complete, time to get voted in

Once your 90 day period is completed, we will discuss you at our monthly membership meeting. Reports of your performance, personality, willingness to contribute, etc. – will all be put before the body. Once we are done telling stories about your contributions and ability to make calls – we will vote. You will be in or out.

If you are voted in you will receive a radio and can start making calls as an official EFD firefighter.

If you didn’t make the vote, you can petition to start another 90 day probation.

Check out the volunteer FAQ section if you have any other questions.