Volunteering in your community gives you the power to create the kind of community you want to live in. Each fall, the Public Safety Department recruits volunteers to participate in a firefighter academy. Volunteers become certified to assist paid public safety officers, who are cross-trained as police and firefighters, in the field by completing courses from CPR to rescue training.
Volunteer firefighters play a vital role in the shaping of our community and provide a valuable resource of civilian support during times of need. They participate in community service activities and educate our youngest residents on fire safety by visiting community elementary schools. Volunteer firefighters ultimately help create a vibrant civil society.
All Public Safety Officers and Reserve Officers participate in a minimum of 40 hours of in-service police training and 20 hours of in-service fire training. This is a specialized annual training to ensure that each officer stays current in such subjects as legal changes, policy changes, new or improved techniques of performing their jobs, CPR and Baton recertificiation, qualifying with weapons, driving practices, and fire training. Such training is requred by law.
All Public Safety Officers and Volunteer Fire Fighters meet for monthly drills to practice fire fighting and rescue skills.
The volunteer fire command personnel play an indispensable part in the development and retention of volunteer firefighters and are greatly valued by Public Safety staff. They have many duties including the recruitment of volunteer firefighters to maintain a strong volunteer base. Command personnel conduct the annual firefighter academy and other fire training throughout the year ensuring volunteers are well educated and capable in a fire emergency.
Command personnel also plan, organize, and conduct the Annual Barbecue Fundraiser to raise much needed funds for the Fire Department to purchase equipment. They assist in fire equipment purchases and are involved in the Annual Disaster Drill coordinated by the Public Safety Department.