Your Community Needs You - Volunteer to Make a Difference!

The Greater Springfield Volunteer Fire Department is actively seeking volunteers of all backgrounds for Firefighter, EMT and FireCorps Administrative roles.

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Every day, in every community, emergency responders answer the call of our families, friends and neighbors who are in need of assistance. From car accidents to heart attacks, from house fires to technical rescues, emergency responders are there to protect lives and property.

Emergency responders are a special type of people, with many different reasons for answering the call of duty. Some like the challenges and the adrenaline rush, while others like to sharpen their emergency skills and techniques.  Every one of them answers the call so that they can help someone in need.

Today's emergency responders do far more than put out fires or bandage wounds. Emergency responders are the first line of defense in natural and man-made disasters. They respond to vehicle accidents, hazardous materials incidents, specialized rescue situations and a vast array of emergency medical complaints.

In response to the growing need for new volunteer fire and emergency medical service providers, the Greater Springfield Volunteer Fire Department has initiated a recruitment campaign for interested citizens to learn how to "answer the call" and serve their community.

Becoming a volunteer emergency responder can be the most rewarding experience of your life, and allows you to reach out to someone in need. Together with the Greater Springfield Volunteer Fire Department you can ensure that there is always someone to "answer the call".

Click JOIN NOW ! to fill out the on-line contact / information request form.

Click FIRE EXPLORER's Program to learn more about Fairfax County's Fire & Rescue Department Explorer Program.

Click MORE INFO to read more.

REQUIREMENTS

If you are at least 18 years old and willing to serve your fellow citizens as a firefighter, emergency medical provider or in an administrative capacity, the Greater Springfield Vounteer Fire Department is looking for you. From college students to life-long Springfield residents and retirees, if you've got the time to dedicate to your community we'd love to have you.

The initial application process includes a background check and typically takes between 4 to 6 weeks. During the wait, new members are encouraged to participate in other department activities. Additionally, preliminary approval for membership is granted within a few weeks and allows a member to begin certain training. New operational members are required to complete training provided by the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department.  Training includes Emergency Medical Technician, Firefighter I/II, and Hazardous Materials - Operations Level to name a few.

Those applying for Firefighter will be required to pass the Candidate Physical Ability Test (CPAT) - watch the CPAT Videos to get an idea of the physical requiements needed to become a Firefighter.

The following video provides an overview of the requirements for becoming an operational member:

A detailed overview of training objectives will be posted online soon.

Members are required to participate at least 20 hours each month.

There are many opportunities for advancement and responsibility on both the operational and FireCorps (administrative) side of the department.

WAYS TO VOLUNTEER

The GSVFD has several levels of membership that can fit into almost anyone's desires and skills: firefighting and/or emergency medical or non-operational. Whether you want to be on the front lines or just helping out with Bingo, we've got the opportunity for you. All training and equipment are provided. Come on up!

• Operational Roles

  • Firefighter/EMT

  • EMT (EMS Only)

• FireCorps Members (Administrative)

  • Fundraising / Bingo

  • Canteen Operations

  • WebSite Design

  • Article & Newsletter Writers

  • Grant Writers

  • Marketing & Promotions

  • and much more !

WHAT YOU GET!

Besides being a member of one of the most progressive, well-organized and one of the most well known and respected volunteer fire departments in the nation, there are numerous benefits to being a volunteer at the Greater Springfield VFD. Among them:

• Free training in firefighting, emergency medicine and related courses

• Uniforms provided

• TAX BREAK -- Personal Property Tax exemption for one vehicle (Fairfax County residents only).

• Sense of dedication to community and working as part of a team

• Many other benefits....just ask any of our members!

HOW TO GET STARTED

So now that you have decided you want to be a volunteer firefighter or already are and want to join the GSVFD - what do you do?  Well, if you live locally try stopping by our firehouse at 7011 Backlick Road on the following nights during a prospective new member orientation session.

These monthly information sessions that are designed to give you an idea on what it takes to be a volunteer with our department.
The session consists of several short videos (which are also posted here on our website) and an overview of the training involved. They usually last about an hour.   We will also answer any questions you may have.

Here are some future dates for the new member meetings. Just pick one and come on down to the station (when you knock on the door, tell whoever answers you are there for the volunteer prospective members meeting in the upstairs classroom). If you can not make any of these dates just email us back (fill out the form below) and let us know.

WHAT YOU NEED TO BRING TO THE PROSPECTIVE MEMBER MEETING

When you come to the prospective members meeting, please be sure to bring the following items:

1) Copy of your current driving record from the DMV (Virginia and any other state in which you held a license in)

2) Listing of three (3) current refrences, including Name, Address, Phone number

3) Copy of current government issued ID (such as valid drivers license, military ID)

4) If under 18 (Junior Member), you must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian

Meetings are held the first Thursday of each month (unless noted differently) at 7:00pm in our Upstairs Classroom
2010 Schedule
- Thursday June 3rd - 7:00pm (Upstairs Classroom)
- Thursday July 1st - 7:00pm (Upstairs Classroom)
- Thursday August 5th - 7:00pm (Upstairs Classroom)
- Thursday September 2nd - 7:00pm (Upstairs Classroom)

Operational Members - Time & Training commtments:

- Each volunteer must participate at least 20 hours/month (adjusted quarterly).
- Must work 1 Bingo every 4 weeks.
- Must attend the monthy business meeting (3rd Monday of the month).
- Approx 5.5 months of training before you can become and EMT
- Another 6 months to reach FireFighter status (if not EMS only).
- On-going annual refresher training.

FireCorps Members (Administrative) - Time & Training commitments:

- Each volunteer must participate at least 20 hours/month (adjusted quarterly).
- Must work at least 1 Bingo every 4 weeks (in order to meet the hour requirements, a couple bingos a month is usually preferred).
- Must attend the monthy business meeting (3rd Monday of the month).

Sign up On-Line - JOIN NOW!

If you need directions or more information please call the membership hotline at 703.451.5119

Blake Payne
Chief of Fire/EMS Operations