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SUMMERDALE, Ala. (WKRG) — There is always something to do around a fire station. Summerdale volunteer firefighters have to do what they can between calls and those calls for service are increasing.
Niagara is the latest county to provide property tax breaks as a way of attracting volunteer firefighters and emergency service workers.
MENDOCINO Co., 5/30/23 — The best fire department fundraiser with a Father’s Day chicken dinner is happening again on June 18 in Comptche: the annual Comptche Volunteer Fire Department fundraising event. First started more than 50 years ago, this year event organizers have prepared 1000 pounds of chicken and hundreds of homemade pies, along with a quilt available via raffle, to help support the local fire department.
The new feature-length documentary Odd Hours, No Pay, Cool Hat goes behind the lines of America’s volunteer fire service to follow the inspiring journey of volunteer firefighters from across the U.S. as they encounter heart-breaking challenges and exhilarating triumphs to fulfill a single mission: serving their community. Heart-warming, humorous, and thrilling, this sweeping portrait of bravery will capture hearts and inspire.
Successful fire and EMS departments prioritize the health and safety of their members and foster a
positive, inclusive environment where their members can thrive. Unfortunately, instances of
harassment, discrimination, and retaliation do just the opposite, harming individuals and the entire
department. Departments can protect their members and the organization by adopting proactive
measures to identify and respond to discrimination and harassment in the workplace.
Volunteer firefighters and EMT workers will now benefit from a property tax exemption thanks to a resolution passed by the Dryden Town Board on Feb. 16.
The 10 percent exemption will only be granted to volunteer firefighters and EMT workers that are enrolled members who have been “certified by the authority having jurisdiction for the incorporated volunteer fire company, fire department, or voluntary ambulance service as an enrolled member of such incorporated volunteer fire company, fire department, or voluntary ambulance,” according to the resolution.
Any certified volunteer that has accumulated more than 20 years of service will be considered a “life member,” and so the tax exemption will continue throughout the entirety of their life so long as the property serves as their primary residence.
Calaveras County consists of 10 volunteer fire departments:
The CCFCA fire agencies are located in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada Mountains, 188 miles east of San Francisco and 135 miles west of Lake Tahoe in California. Found midway on State Highway 49, between Sacramento and Yosemite, Calaveras County links the two towns of the California Gold Country. With an average of 6,000 fire and emergency service calls a year, our 11 fire districts serve a rural area of 45,578 people. We provide fire protection and rescue service to 1,020 square miles of rural area. Our 11 volunteer agencies respond to structure fires, wild land fires, medical emergencies, water rescue, technical rope rescue, hazardous materials spills, public service assistance calls and other emergencies. The Calaveras County Fire Agencies protects an area that is 66% rural wild land, 21% residential, and 3% commercial, including Calaveras Big Trees State Park, a preserve of Giant Sequoia trees, located in the county several miles east of the town of Arnold.
Below is a list of the selection criteria each department requires in order to consider an application for volunteer firefighter. Read the criteria and make sure that you qualify, then click the Apply button to complete your application online.
Although local governments and departments establish different selection criteria, many departments require that volunteers:
Time requirements vary by department. Time commitment will depend on several factors, such as the number of calls the department receives, training requirements, shift versus on-call structure, and community activities in which the department requires volunteers to participate.
Volunteer departments prefer that volunteers have the ability to respond to calls 24 hours a day, although most departments still accept volunteers who are unable to leave work or other obligations to respond to a call.
Typically, departments pay for training and firefighting equipment. Volunteer firefighting is an unpaid position; however, some departments may provide stipends or reimburse volunteers for certain expenses.
