How to Become a Volunteer Firefighter: Requirements, Training & What to Expect
Last updated: · 10 min read
Volunteer firefighters make up approximately 65% of the U.S. fire service. They protect rural communities, small towns, and suburban areas that could not support the cost of a full-time paid department. Becoming a volunteer firefighter is one of the most meaningful commitments a person can make to their community — and it is also one of the most accessible pathways into the fire service for people considering a career change or seeking to serve. This guide covers the complete path: how to find a department, what the application process involves, what training is required, and what the commitment actually looks like.
None (or small per-call stipend); some combination departments pay per call
Full salary, benefits, pension
Time commitment
Flexible; typically minimum call/drill hours per month
Structured shift work (24/48, 48/96, Kelly)
Hiring process
Application, interview, background check; less competitive than career
Written exam, CPAT, oral board, extensive background; highly competitive
Training required
Firefighter I/II (NFPA 1001) or state equivalent; often department-provided
Same certification plus department academy (16–26 weeks)
Call volume
Varies widely: rural VFDs may run 50 calls/year; suburban combination departments may run 1,000+
Typically high; large metro departments run 10,000+ calls/year
Response model
Respond from home or work via pager/radio; may not make every call
On-duty at the station 24 hours; respond immediately
Combination departments: Many departments use a mix of career staff on duty and volunteer supplements on an on-call basis. These "combination" departments offer volunteer experience in departments that also have professional paid staff — often the best of both worlds for gaining experience and learning from career officers.
How to Find a Volunteer Fire Department
Finding a volunteer department near you is straightforward:
USFA Fire Department Locator: The U.S. Fire Administration maintains a searchable database of fire departments by location at apps.usfa.fema.gov/fd-info. Enter your ZIP code to find departments in your area.
State fire association websites: Most states have a volunteer fire association (e.g., VFIS, state firefighters association) that lists member departments.
Drive around: Fire stations are visible. Many have recruitment signs, websites, or contact information posted. Call the non-emergency number and express your interest.
Attend a community event: Many VFDs host open houses, community safety days, and fundraising events where you can meet members and express interest in joining.
Use the Fire Station Locator: Find the nearest departments in your area and get their contact information.
Choosing the right department
Not all volunteer departments are the same. Consider:
Call volume and type: A rural agricultural department may run 30 calls per year, mostly grass fires. A suburban combination department may run 800+ calls including EMS. Choose based on what you want to experience.
Training culture: Visit the station, attend a public meeting, or ask members about their training program. Active training departments produce better firefighters.
Distance from home or work: You need to be able to respond within a reasonable time (most departments expect 5–10 minutes during daytime). A station 40 minutes away means you rarely make calls.
Department culture: Meet the members before you commit. You will spend significant time with these people in high-stress situations. The cultural fit matters.
Basic Requirements for Volunteer Firefighters
Requirements vary by department and state, but the minimum that virtually all departments require:
Age: Minimum 18 for interior firefighting operations. Many departments allow junior members (14–17) in limited, non-operational roles. Some states permit 16–17-year-olds in exterior support roles only.
U.S. residency or citizenship: Required for most departments, though requirements vary by jurisdiction.
Driver's license: Valid driver's license required. Some positions require CDL or specific endorsements for apparatus operation.
Background check: Criminal background check is standard. Felony convictions typically disqualify (particularly violent crimes, arson, or fraud). Misdemeanors are evaluated individually.
Medical clearance: NFPA 1582 medical evaluation is the standard for fire service fitness for duty. Many departments require a baseline physical before active participation.
Physical fitness: You must be able to perform the physical functions of firefighting. Some departments have a basic fitness test or require passing a modified physical ability evaluation. Firefighting is physically demanding — cardiovascular fitness and functional strength are required.
No prior experience required. Most volunteer departments do not expect candidates to have any fire service experience before joining. The department provides the training. What they are looking for: reliability, physical fitness, willingness to learn, and the ability to work in a team under stress.
The Application Process
The volunteer firefighter application process is typically less competitive than career firefighter hiring but involves more than just expressing interest. Most departments require:
Written application: Basic personal information, employment history, education, references. Some departments have specific volunteer application forms; others use a simple letter of interest.
Interview: A conversation with the chief, officers, or a membership committee. They want to understand your motivation, your availability, and whether you can commit to the training and time requirements. Be honest about your schedule and commitments.
Background investigation: Criminal background check; sometimes a driving record check. Some departments verify references.
Medical evaluation: Baseline physical (some departments, particularly those with active EMS programs, require a full NFPA 1582-compliant medical before operational activity).
Probationary period: Most departments have a 6–12 month probationary period during which new members complete required training, demonstrate reliability, and earn full membership status.
Required Training
The training path for a volunteer firefighter culminates in Firefighter I and Firefighter II certification under NFPA 1001. The specific path varies by state:
Firefighter I certification (minimum for interior operations)
Firefighter I is the entry-level certification required to participate in interior structural firefighting. It covers fire behavior, SCBA, hose deployment, search and rescue, forcible entry, ladder operations, ventilation, and basic ICS. Typically 100–200 hours of classroom and hands-on training. Required before any interior fire operations.
Firefighter II certification
Firefighter II builds on FF1 with company officer principles, pre-incident planning, hazmat awareness, and more complex operations. Required for full operational capability in most departments and for career firefighter applications in most states.
How training is delivered
Department-based training: Many volunteer departments run their own FF1/FF2 programs, with your department's officers and state-certified instructors. Training is typically held evenings and weekends over 6–12 months.
Community college or fire academy: Many states offer FF1/FF2 through community colleges or regional fire academies. These are often faster (full-time programs of 16–20 weeks) but require daytime availability.
State fire training systems: Most states have a fire training bureau that certifies instructors and programs. Your state's system determines what is accepted for certification.
Additional certifications to pursue
EMT-Basic: Strongly recommended and required at many combination departments. EMS calls make up 60–80% of call volume at most departments. EMT certification makes you immediately useful on the majority of calls.
Hazmat Operations (NFPA 472): Required for responding to hazardous materials incidents at the Operations level.
Driver/Engineer certification: Allows you to drive and pump apparatus.
The volunteer commitment varies enormously by department and role. A realistic expectation for a new active volunteer:
Training (first year): 8–16 hours per month minimum while completing FF1/FF2. Weekend training sessions are common.
Monthly drills: Most departments require attendance at monthly company drills (2–4 hours each). Minimum attendance requirements vary (often 50–75% of scheduled drills).
Call response: When your pager goes off, you respond if you can. Departments understand that volunteers have jobs and families. Minimum response expectations vary widely.
Fundraising and administrative: Some departments expect participation in fundraising events, community outreach, or administrative functions.
Be honest about your availability when joining. Committing to a volunteer department and then being unavailable for calls and drills wastes the department's training investment and creates staffing problems. If your schedule is highly variable, discuss this openly with the department before joining. Many departments can accommodate limited availability if expectations are clear from the start.
Pay, Stipends, and Benefits
Most traditional volunteer firefighters receive no direct compensation. However, benefits vary significantly by department and state:
Per-call stipends: Many combination and suburban volunteer departments pay per-call amounts ($10–$50 per call is typical, varying widely by state and department budget). This is not a salary — it is a nominal acknowledgment of service.
Length of service awards (LOSAP): Many states offer LOSAP programs that provide pension-style retirement benefits to long-serving volunteers based on accumulated points for calls, drills, and service years.
Line of duty death and disability: Most states have presumption laws or funds providing benefits to volunteer firefighters injured or killed in the line of duty. Federal PSOB (Public Safety Officer Benefit) provides death and disability benefits to eligible volunteers killed or permanently disabled in the line of duty.
Income tax credits: Some states offer state income tax credits for active volunteer firefighters.
Life insurance: Some departments and state associations provide group life insurance for active members.
Training costs covered: Most departments cover the cost of FF1/FF2 training and required certifications for active members.
Firehouse Culture as a Volunteer
The firehouse culture of a volunteer department is often more close-knit than a career department because members have chosen to be there without financial incentive. They share a genuine community service motivation. What to expect:
Hang around before you officially join. Many departments invite prospective members to spend time at the station, ride along on calls (as observers), and attend public functions before submitting an application. This gives you and the department time to assess fit.
Earn your place by showing up. In a volunteer department, your value is demonstrated by your reliability. A new member who shows up for every drill, responds to calls whenever possible, and does the unglamorous work (cleaning apparatus, maintaining equipment, helping with fundraisers) earns respect faster than someone who only appears when there is an interesting call.
Respect the experience of long-serving members. Many volunteer departments have members with decades of experience who have seen everything. Listen more than you talk early in your membership.
The fireground is not the place to figure out personalities. Whatever interpersonal dynamics exist in the station get set aside completely on the fireground. Professionalism and teamwork under emergency conditions is non-negotiable regardless of how relationships outside the station may be.
Volunteer to Career Pathway
Volunteer experience is one of the strongest differentiators on a career firefighter application. Career departments consistently prefer candidates with volunteer experience because:
They arrive with FF1/FF2 certifications and sometimes EMT already completed
They have been inside burning buildings and understand what the job actually is
They have demonstrated reliability and commitment without financial incentive
They understand firehouse culture and the chain of command
References from career firefighters or officers at a combination department carry significant weight
The typical volunteer-to-career pathway: Join a volunteer or combination department → complete FF1/FF2 and EMT → accumulate call experience and instructor/officer recommendations → apply to career departments with a full certification package and strong references. See the How to Become a Firefighter guide for the complete career application process.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do volunteer firefighters get paid?
Most traditional volunteer firefighters receive no direct salary. Some departments pay per-call stipends ($10–$50 per call is typical). Many states offer LOSAP (Length of Service Award Program) retirement benefits for long-serving volunteers. Federal and state line-of-duty death and disability benefits apply to eligible volunteers. The primary compensation is the experience, training, and community service — not financial.
How long does it take to become a volunteer firefighter?
From initial application to first interior fire response, typically 6–18 months depending on how the department delivers FF1 training. The application and background process takes 4–8 weeks. FF1 training takes 3–9 months depending on the program format. You are not cleared for interior operations until FF1 is complete.
Can you be a volunteer firefighter if you have a full-time job?
Yes. The majority of volunteer firefighters hold full-time jobs. Most departments schedule drills in the evenings and weekends and understand that members cannot respond to every call. Some employers also have provisions for time off to respond to fire emergencies during work hours — check with your employer and your state's laws regarding volunteer firefighter employment protections.
What is the difference between a volunteer and combination fire department?
A purely volunteer department has no paid career staff — all members serve on a volunteer basis. A combination department (also called a paid-on-call or partially paid department) has some career staff on duty at the station supplemented by volunteers who respond from home or work on an on-call basis. Many suburban and semi-rural departments use the combination model.
