BECOMING A VOLUNTEER

THE FIRE AND RESCUE SERVICE IS ONE OF THE MOST DIVERSE AND CHALLENGING PROFESSIONS KNOWN TODAY.  IT IS THIS DIVERSITY THAT INSPIRES MOST MEN AND WOMEN TO ENTER THE FIRE SERVICE.  IMAGINE HAVING TO TRAIN TO PREPARE YOURSELF TO COPE WITH THE SITUATIONS WHICH RANGE FROM COMMERCIAL BUILDING FIRES TO CHILDBIRTH, FROM HAZARDOUS CHEMICAL SPILLS TO HEART ATTACKS, AND TO ALMOST ANY IMAGINABLE EMERGENCY BETWEEN.  COUPLE THIS DIVERSITY WITH THE FACT THAT THESE SKILLS MAY BE NEEDED AT ANY TIME OF THE DAY, SEVEN DAYS A WEEK, IN ANY KIND OF WEATHER MAKES IT EVIDENT THAT OUR PROFESSION IS ONE OF THE MOST REWARDING.

WE ARE HERE FOR TWO BASIC PURPOSES. THE FIRST IS TO PREVENT FIRE FROM OCCURRING.  THIS IS DONE THROUGH FIRE PREVENTION AND FIRE SAFETY EDUCATION.  SECONDLY, WE ARE HERE TO PREPARE OURSELVES TO CONTROL FIRE EMERGENCIES SHOULD FIRE PREVENTION FAIL AND TO PROVIDE EMERGENCY MEDICAL ASSISTANCE.  THIS IS DONE THROUGH EDUCATION, TRAINING, PRE-INCIDENT PLANNING, MORE TRAINING, STATE-OF-THE-ART EQUIPMENT AND MORE TRAINING.

THIS BUSINESS IS NOT FOR EVERYONE.  YOU NEED MORE THAN JUST THE DESIRE TO HELP PEOPLE.  YOU WILL ALSO NEED COURAGE, DEDICATION, ASSERTIVENESS, AND A WILLINGNESS TO LEARN NEW SKILLS AND FACE NEW CHALLENGES.  THE FIRE AND RESCUE SERVICE IS NOT FOR THE MEEK AND TIMID OR FOR THOSE WHO LOSE CONTROL OF THEIR EMOTIONS DURING TIMES OF CRISES.  OUR SERVICE IS ONE WHICH CALLS ON ITS MEMBERS TO PERFORM HOT, SWEATY, DIRTY STRENUOUS WORK, OFTEN IN IN UNCERTAIN AND HAZARDOUS ENVIRONMENTS.

THE PERSONAL REWARDS AND SELF-SATISFACTION EACH OF US RECEIVES FROM FIRE AND RESCUE SERVICE ARE OFTEN BEYOND DESCRIPTION.  THE SENSE OF ACCOMPLISHMENT AFTER CONTROLLING A BUILDING FIRE, THE ELATION OF SAVING A LIFE FROM A HEART ATTACK, THE COMPASSION FOR ACCIDENT VICTIMS, THE FULFILLMENT OF TEACHING FIRE SAFETY... AND THE LIST GOES ON.

THE BOTTOM LINE IN OUR BUSINESS IS MEASURED BY THE LOSS OF LIFE, PAIN, SUFFERING AND PROPERTY DAMAGE WE HAVE PREVENTED OR REDUCED.  WE ARE HERE AND PREPARED FOR ONE REASON AND THAT IS TO PROVIDE SERVICE TO THE PEOPLE.

REQUIREMENTS

APPLICANTS MUST BE AT LEAST 18 YRS. OLD AND A RESIDENT OF WESTERN TANEY COUNTY OR IMMEDIATE SURROUNDING AREA FOR AT LEAST SIX MONTHS PRIOR TO APPROVAL OF THEIR APPLICATION.  THESE AREAS INCLUDE:  THE FIRE DISTRICT, CITY OF HOLLISTER, CITY OF BRANSON, AND WITHIN TWO MILES OF THE BOUNDARIES OF THE DISTRICT.  EACH MEMBER MUST PASS A 100 QUESTION APTITUDE TEST AND A PHYSICAL AGILITY TEST.

WHAT HAPPENS AFTER ACCEPTANCE

AFTER YOUR APPLICATION HAS BEEN ACCEPTED YOU WILL BE REQUIRED TO SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETE THE 40 HOUR  ROOKIE CLASS.  YOU THEN BECOME A ROOKIE FIREFIGHTER AND ASSIGNED TO THE APPROPRIATE STATION.  YOU WILL HAVE ONE YEAR FROM THIS TIME TO COMPLETE THE REQUIRED TRAINING TO BECOME FIREFIGHTER STATUS.

DEPARTMENT SUPPLIED ITEMS

    PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT-A COMPLETE SET OF GEAR WHICH INCLUDES COAT, PANTS, BOOTS, HELMET, GLOVES, NOMEX HOOD AND SCBA FACE MASK.

    PAGERS-YOU WILL BE ASSIGNED A VOICE AND TONE ACTIVATED PAGER THROUGH WHICH YOU WILL RECEIVE YOUR EMERGENCY DISPATCHES.

IF you have a question or would like to talk to someone in person please feel free to call at 417.334.3440 or you can fill out an application here.

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