How Does a Volunteer Firefighter Spend a Workday?

Being On Call

Volunteer firefighters are scheduled to be on call for certain shifts of each day. If they are emergency responders, they may not even work on days when they are scheduled. They must, however, be available at any time during their scheduled shifts to respond to fires and other emergencies.

Some volunteer departments need their firefighters to be on call 24/7 because of a shortage of volunteers available. This means that if the firefighter works other jobs, he may have problems responding due to the limitations and restrictions of his other job. Those who are self employed, however, are normally more readily available to respond to emergency calls.

Station Duties

Some volunteer firefighters may also spend their volunteer shift helping out with administrative duties at the station, such as preparing correspondence, filing and creating reports. They may also spend time doing maintenance work around the station, cleaning equipment, and washing and preparing the fire trucks and other response vehicles.

Training

With the extreme physical demands of firefighting, it is critical to remain in excellent physical shape. Volunteer firefighters therefore need to spend some time most days doing strength training and cardio workouts. They may also take part in workshops and classes to increase their firefighting skills and keep up with current procedures and trends.

Resources

• How to Become a Volunteer Firefighter