Becoming a volunteer firefighter is an excellent way to pay forward into the community. It takes hard work, training and commitment. The first step is to contact your area fire department to see if they have a volunteer program. For instance, Shasta County Fire works with Cal Fire to train and certify volunteer firefighters.
I have found the opportunity to be difficult at times, as well as a source of many wonderful opportunities to serve and learn in the community.
On medical emergency calls, volunteer firefighters help assess patients until the ambulance arrives and assist the professional EMTs when needed. On the scene of traffic accidents, they can be called on to help with patient assessment, extraction from vehicles, cleanup, fire suppression and any other tasks that are immediately needed.
Working on wildland fire operations may require volunteers to help create a fire line with tools, put out hose lines, or continue to assess the area for hot spots that could turn into an active fire again. Hiking into the wilderness is one of the fun parts of being on this type of assignment but can also be physically demanding.
Wendy Dickens, MSW, is Executive Director of First 5 Shasta and a volunteer firefighter. She believes in the importance of starting fire prevention awareness early, and teaching young children the basics.
Posted in: Community
Comment Policy: All viewpoints are welcome, but comments should remain relevant. Personal attacks, profanity, and aggressive behavior are not allowed. No spam, advertising, or promoting of products/services. Please, only use your real name and limit the amount of links submitted in your comment.
You Might Also Like...
North State Marching Bands Parade On
Despite perennial funding concerns, the drums of high school bands still beat loud and clear across the North State, and not just in music rooms and concert halls. Marching bands—typically […]
How to Help Birds at Home
For more than a century, Audubon’s mission has been to conserve and restore natural ecosystems, focusing on birds, other wildlife, and their habitats, for the benefit of humanity and the […]
The Hills are Alive with the Sound of Music: Chico Community Choirs to Perform in Salzburg, Vienna and Prague this Summer
Some of Chico’s best vocalists are heading for the hills – the Alps, that is – on an 11-day tour of Prague, Salzburg and Vienna this summer that will include […]
Gallery Ideas for a Home: Preserving Art & Memories
Organizing art and pictures on a wall is harder than it looks, and taking time to talk with an expert can offer valuable knowledge and spark ideas. Whether displaying art, […]
