There are four types of volunteer opportunites available with the Bainbridge Island Fire Department:

1. Firefighter/EMS Volunteers

Firefighter / emergency medical service volunteers respond to fires, medical emergencies and special operation situations. They function in the same capacity as the career members of the department and many times respond to emergency calls directly from home.

Applications are accepted year round and should be returned to the Volunteer Coordinator. Beginning in January, the volunteer applicants undergo a physical agility/fitness assessment, a psychological examination, a Department interview, and a complete medical examination.

Qualified candidates attend a 6 month recruit school. Upon successful completion of recruit training, they become probationary firefighters and will be allowed to respond to emergency calls.

Volunteers with prior experience may enter the Department as Lateral Transfer Firefighters. In addition to meeting the requirements for the normal volunteer applicant, each lateral transfer firefighter will undergo a lateral skills evaluation. Based on this evaluation, the Training Division will develop a customized training and orientation program. Once the customized program has been successfully completed and with the Chief's approval, the lateral transfer firefighter will move on to probationary status.

At the end of the probationary period, the volunteer firefighter's name will be submitted to the Board of Commissioners to become a regular volunteer firefighter.

2. Volunteer Resident Program

The Volunteer Resident Program is designed to provide mutual benefits to the department and volunteer members. The department uses volunteer residents at each station to provide additional response capabilities for fire and medical emergencies. In return for this service, volunteer residents are provided with training, practical experience, living accommodations and equipment.

3. Special Service Volunteers

• Critical Incident Stress Management - These volunteers help emergency responders and community members to cope with and manage the emotional impacts of emergency incidents and trauma.
• Other Specialists - Ranging from Photographers to Grant Writers to Computer Specialists, we gladly accept all types of volunteer capabilities for both short and long-term projects.

Special services applications are accepted year-round.  If the Department determines that there is a need for the special services, the Fire Chief will submit a recommendation to the Board of Commissioners. The Board may accept specialized membership and wave eligibility and probationary requirements for these types of volunteer positions.

4. Fire Cadets

This program provides young adults the opportunity to serve the community, to gain a better understanding of a career in the fire service, and to provide future volunteers for the department.

Cadet responsibilities range from constructing home address posts, assisting at medical scenes, refilling air tanks and providing rest and rehab stations for firefighters. Cadets periodically attend Tuesday night training drills with the firefighters.

General Information and Requirements

Training: Training drills are held every Tuesday night from 7 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. The first Tuesday of each month is devoted to truck checks and the Firefighters Association meeting. The second Tuesday is Medical / OTEP training, the remaining Tuesday nights are for fire related topics. All members have specific required training and attendance goals based on years of experience with the Department and EMS certification level.

Medical / Physical Exams: Medical exams are periodically required for all members. The Department will pay for these examinations. Members failing to meet the minimum medical standards may receive limited duty assignments based on the recommendation of the physician and the approval of the Fire Chief.

Volunteer Benefits: Volunteers within our Department serve their community in a way that is both meaningful and gratifying. Tangible benefits provided by the Department include:

• Enrollment in the Washington State Volunteer Firefighter Pension and Relief Program.
• Enrollment in a long term disability program, which covers all volunteers who are injured or become ill while serving the community.
• Volunteers are reimbursed $8.00 per call or drill attended, with additional reimbursement allowed for more time consuming activities.
• Practical experience for those desiring a career in the fire service.
• A "family" for social and recreational activities.

Uniforms and Protective Clothing/Equipment: Protective clothing and uniforms are required by the Department. The Department provides each responding volunteer with protective clothing and equipment to safely respond to emergencies. The Department also provides a stipend to each volunteer to help offset the cost of footwear. Other required uniform costs are covered by the Department and/or the Volunteer Firefighters Association.

For the Family: In 1942, Mrs. L. W. Sinnett, Chief Sinnett's wife, was responsible for calling the volunteers, one by one, and giving them directions to the emergency scene. With the changing times and needs, volunteers now rely on pagers to direct them to an emergency. Every volunteer's family is well aware that the pager's "tone-out" can occur at any time of the day or night.

A volunteer's family and job responsibilities should always come first. However, the nature of our activities require volunteers to decide at a moment's notice, whether to respond to an emergency scene. There may be times when your plans will be changed to respond to a scene or transfer a patient for medical treatment. Family and employer understanding and support will be beneficial for any involvement with our Department. We strongly encourage you to talk with your family about the decision to become a volunteer firefighter.