Volunteer Firefighting | VolunteerFirefighter.org

ANSWER THE CALL TO SERVE AND PROTECT

Become a Volunteer Firefighter in Your Community

Across the United States, Volunteer Firefighters are the backbone of fire protection services in countless communities, especially in rural and small-town areas. Yet, this critical tradition is facing a crisis: the number of Volunteer Firefighters has steadily declined over the years due to changing demographics, increasing training demands, and competing time commitments. As emergencies grow more complex, the need for dedicated volunteers to step up and serve has never been greater.

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YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE

By joining this proud legacy, you can make a tangible difference in your community, protect lives, and be part of a team that embodies courage and selflessness. Together, we can ensure that no call for help goes unanswered.

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COMMITMENT TO COMMUNITY

VolunteerFirefighter.org was established to help departments in need to recruit and retain Volunteer Firefighters, particularly in rural areas. We connect dedicated individuals with local fire departments to enhance safety and support firefighting teams in communities across the United States.

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Community Service, Personal Rewards

Serving as a Volunteer Firefighter offers numerous personal, professional, and community benefits. While this position is “unpaid,” many local fire departments are able to provide benefits to their volunteers due to their region and/or through external financial support (i.e. SAFER Grants). This can include:

Tax Benefits (Federal, State, Local)
Volunteer Stipends
Tuition Assistance
Health Insurance Coverage

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Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response SAFER Grant Management

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) - Staffing For Adequate Fire and Emergency Response

The Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response Grants (SAFER) was created to provide funding directly to fire departments and Volunteer Firefighters interest organizations to help them increase or maintain the number of trained, "front line" firefighters available in their communities.

The goal of SAFER is to enhance the local fire departments' abilities to comply with staffing, response and operational standards established by the NFPA (NFPA 1710 and/or NFPA 1720).

Benefit Advantages for Emergency Responders (BAER)

As a nonprofit corporation, BAER has long provided quality benefits and services to California Volunteer Emergency Responders, including Accidental Death and Dismemberment (AD&D) coverage. There is a great need for these benefits in the California Fire Service. BAER is committed to not only providing such benefits, but to educating Volunteer Fire Departments and members about how to successfully enroll for these benefits to better protect all volunteers. In addition, BAER is looking to recruit a new generation of Volunteer Firefighters throughout the state of California.

Partners

Recruiting more Volunteer Firefighters to protect communities across the United States is a challenge no one can tackle alone. It takes collaboration and partnership to make a lasting impact. By working together with dedicated organizations, community leaders, and supportive partners, we can amplify our efforts, reach more people, and inspire the next generation of volunteers.