Please join us!
A PROUD TRADITION OF SERVICE
Becoming a volunteer with the Loudoun County Combined Fire and Rescue System is one of the most meaningful things you can do—for your community and for yourself. Our volunteers come from all walks of life, united only by a desire to serve.
Volunteer firefighters are part of a great American tradition of civic participation. Today, some 70 percent of the 1 million firefighters in America are volunteers, whose contribution of time and dedication saves an estimated $150 billion a year.
Currently there are approximately 600 operational volunteers in the County and 600 career staff working together to protect the lives and property of residents.
No previous experience is necessary. All training is provided, free of cost, at local stations and at the county's own state-of-the-art training facility off Sycolin Road. We will teach you everything you need to know to be a safe and strong contributor to our team. You will receive a combination of on-the-job training and formal instruction. Safety is our Number 1 priority, and we will not put you into a position until you are ready for what is required.
If an operational firefighting or EMS role is not for you, there are many other ways to contribute as an administrative volunteer.
VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
Volunteer Firefighters perform many duties besides putting out fires. Training will prepare you to be able to respond to a variety of fire and rescue situations, from minor car accidents to emergencies on the river and in the mountains. Once you complete basic firefighting training you will have the opportunity to specialize in water rescue, confined space, technical rescue, high angle, and others.
Voluntary Emergency Medical Technicians in Loudoun County are trained to provide high-level emergency medical care. Initial training certifies you at the Basic Life Support level, with advanced training offered up to the Paramedic level.
Every volunteer fire and rescue department also needs Administrative Volunteers to keep the department running day to day. Administrative members work on fundraising, public service events, marketing, public education, legal, event planning, logistics, website development, facilities, social networking, procurement, fleet management, food preparation, database management, technology development, chaplain services, accounting, and more. Everyone has a talent and skill—and we encourage you to use it to help your local fire-rescue department.
THE APPLICATION PROCESS
To begin your application, just click the APPLY TODAY! button below. The Lucketts Volunteer Fire Company's membership coordinator will get back to you within a few days to go over the next steps, which includes a background check, a physical exam (operational volunteers only), being voted in as a member, and attending New Volunteer Orientation and beginning your training. The initial application process generally takes only a few weeks.
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Is prior experience necessary?Absolutely not! We will provide ALL required training, with the No. 1 priority being safety. We will not put you into any position beyond what you have been trained for and are ready to take on. Our volunteers come from all walks of life, and most have not worked in emergency services before. Our superb and comprehensive training programs in Loudoun County are one of the huge pluses of volunteering here.
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Can I volunteer without assisting in fire or medical emergencies?Yes! If emergency response is not for you, there are plenty of other ways you can help as an administrative member. We need people with skills in such areas as accounting, logistics, recruitment, business management, law, event planning, design, education, information technology and more. We’ll find a way to use your talents and skills!
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Do I need to live in the Lucketts area to join the Lucketts Volunteer Fire Company?Not at all. Our members come from throughout Loudoun County, and even from neighboring states. All that is required is that you can legally work in the United States, are 18 or older (16 for Junior Members), and pass a background check. Operational volunteers respond to emergency calls only during their assigned shifts at the station, which are typically a minimum of one evening per month.
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Do I have to pass a physical fitness test?Operational members are required to have an annual medical exam (provided free of cost), but volunteer members do not have to pass the physical fitness tests that career members are required to.
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What is the minimum age?18 is the minimum age to be a fully certified firefighter or EMT, but volunteers 16 or 17 are eligible to become Junior Members in the Lucketts Volunteer Fire Company and are eligible for training and other benefits.
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Do I have to pay for my training and gear?No! All training and required protective equipment is provided without charge to volunteer members.
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How will I find the time?Volunteering does take time. But our volunteers come from all walks of life. Training is provided in the evenings and on weekends so as not to interfere with work schedules. Duty schedules are flexible. Volunteer firefighters and EMTs in the Lucketts Volunteer Fire Company serve individually assigned shifts at Station 10 (generally one or more evenings per month) to supplement the minimum staffing provided by career staff, sleeping at the station when on the 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. evening shift.
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Are benefits offered for volunteering?The paramount benefit is the satisfaction of serving our communities. But volunteering also is an incomparable way to learn new skills, obtain valuable professional certifications (at no cost but your time and effort), enjoy the camaraderie of working with others, and push yourself to discover new abilities. In addition, Loudoun County offers volunteers in the fire and rescue system reduced vehicle taxes, tuition reimbursement of up to $4,000 for college courses, a Length of Service Annuity Program, and free access to the Training Center gym. Many local businesses also provide discounts to system members.