Volunteer Today!
Why Should we Focus on Volunteering?
- Volunteer firefighters make up 65% of all firefighters across the United States, in Carter County that number rises to 100%. All fire departments in Carter County are volunteer departments with all the firefighters being volunteers. Only two departments have a shift that only lasts 8 hours (these two departments are paid during shift but are still considered volunteer since they respond after hours).
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- Firefighters are trained in fire prevention and public education, so a shortage of firefighters means a shortage of education. Firefighters are a direct way of educating the community.
How do you become a volunteer firefighter?
In order to become a volunteer firefighter (or a Junior Firefighter, which will be brought up further down on this page) you should find the closest fire department to you and look for when the department's training or meeting night is. When you go to your first meeting you will receive an application, once filled out and returned you are officially a volunteer firefighter. If you live in or around Olive Hill, for example, Olive Hill's meeting night is Thursdays and Grahn's meeting night is Mondays.
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What is the Junior Firefighter Program?
The Junior Firefighter Program allows the fire service to introduce and train their future generation of firefighters. The Junior Firefighter program begins at the age of 15 and lasts until the firefighter turns 18 when he/she becomes an actual firefighter. Juniors are not allowed to do certain training or certain tasks on calls. For example, no junior can go into a house fire during calls unless overhaul is occurring and the environment is safe. Junior Firefighters can go on calls after additional training, more than an adult.
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