Volunteers

The Winchester Fire and Rescue Department would like to welcome you to the Fire and Rescue Department. The Winchester Fire and Rescue Department is a combination system relying heavily on volunteers to enhance career staffing levels. Our volunteer stations provide apparatus and equipment that is vital in providing quality service to our community.

You will find that volunteering as a firefighter, emergency medical technician, administrative or auxiliary member is a truly rewarding endeavor with a high-level of personal satisfaction from knowing that you have played a role in saving a life or stopping a fire. Whether you are providing emergency services or administrative support, the mission of maintaining the volunteer stations ability to provide millions of dollars worth of assets, and thousands of hours of human resources is critical to the successful execution of this city’s fire and rescue operations.

This web page is designed to give you some insight into being a volunteer. Once you understand what is involved, we hope you will make a truly valuable contribution to the community and be an active part of our team.

Fire stations symbol

Volunteer Opportunities

Several different types of membership are available in the city’s volunteer fire departments. Operational volunteers are those directly involved with fire and emergency medical service operations.
Administrative and auxiliary members are primarily involved in community outreach, business management and fundraising activities.
Operational volunteers serve at all ranks of the department from firefighter to command officer. Personnel can be cross-trained as emergency medical technician (EMT) and firefighter or as an EMT only. Advancement opportunities are available for volunteers desiring to become driver-operators, fire officers, paramedics, and EMS officers.
Administrative and auxiliary members provide essential support services for the volunteer stations. People with skills in fundraising, community education, and business/personnel management are especially needed.

Operational Volunteers

Becoming a volunteer firefighter with one of our four volunteer stations provides you with a prime opportunity to get acquainted with fire service and gain some valuable training and experience. By becoming a firefighter you gain the chance to help neighbors and friends within our community. You will be provided with vital “hands on” experience that will be an excellent stepping stone into your fire service career. You will fight fires (fire suppression), run EMS calls and serve the community in many other ways such as, fund-raising, fire prevention, and more.

Candidates get hands-on experience through quality training with the tools of the trade. Professional Firefighters and EMS personnel work as a team during emergencies to protect life and property.

Administrative and Auxiliary Volunteers

Specific participation requirements for administrative and auxiliary members vary from station to station and depend on the level of participation desired by the individual volunteer. Training is provided at the station level. Opportunities exist within human resources, fundraising, community outreach, life safety education, accounting, and many other areas. Administrative members are allowed limited participation in operational duties.

Requirements

Must be at least 16 to join and 18 years of age to enter hazardous environments.
Excellent health, free from any mental or physical condition which would interfere with effective performance on the job.
Pass a criminal background check.
Possession of a high school diploma or GED preferred.
Clean neat appearance.
Proficient in reading, writing, and speaking the English language.
Possession of valid driver's license (operational personnel).
Must have completed and successfully passed all phases and requirements of the application and selection process.

Training

Training is provided free of charge to all volunteers. Most training is conducted on evenings and weekends.

Basic training for operational members includes:

In-station and academy orientations
Certification as a Virginia Emergency Medical Technician-Basic (EMT-B)
Emergency vehicle operator’s course

Members pursuing firefighter status will be certified in the Commonwealth of Virginia at the Firefighter I and Firefighter II levels.

Additional training is available in both fire and emergency medical services including:

Fireground hydraulics
Fire instructor
Fire officer
Paramedic
Hazardous materials
Rope rescue
Much more

We Want You

Whether you want to be on the font lines delivering emergency medical care or fire protection, or you'd prefer providing the administrative support required to operate a volunteer department, there is a position waiting for you!

Needed:

Firefighter
Emergency Medical Technician
Community Relations
Fundraising
Administration
Life Safety Education

Stations

Collectively, the volunteers own the stations, most of the ambulances, fire engines and ladder trucks utilized for emergency response within the city. In 2018, the City of Winchester purchased its first ladder truck.

Friendship Fire Co. - Station 1