Volunteer and Part-Time Firefighter
Requirements
To apply for membership to the West Ridge Fire Department, each applicant must:
- Be 18 years of age,
- Have a valid Pennsylvania drivers license, or able to obtain your PA Drivers license as required by state law.
- And have a high school diploma or a GED equivalent.
Process
Each applicant must fill out an application for probationary membership and turn in the application to the Membership Committee. Each applicant will then go through a department interview by the membership committee and the Chief. A Pennsylvania State Police background check is also required to be completed before being presented for membership.
Part-Time applications are processed in a slightly different manner. Please apply on-line and the Fire Chief or his/her designate will then schedule interviews and will conduct all pre-employment background checks.
Once the applicant has gone through these steps, the Membership Committee will bring their findings to the general membership meeting. Each applicant will need to be present that evening that the vote is taken to be placed on probationary status. Information about each applicant will be provided to the membership about your application.
Upon being voted to probationary status, the following requirements are to be completed during the probationary period. The probationary period can range from 6 months - 24 months. During the probationary period, a probationary firefighter is required to complete a fire department physical within the first 30 days of election to probationary membership status. The physical is at the expense of WRFD.
A probationary firefighter (Volunteer membership) is required to complete the following training requirements:
- Emergency Medical Responder (EMR) or EMT class,
- NFPA Hazardous Materials Operations Class (24 hours),
- Most current PA Firefighting Delmar Class (Essentials of Firefighting) and a state certified structural burn session (16 hours).
- Each probationary member is also required to attend each Monday evening training session as well as each monthly business meeting during the probationary period.
Upon successful completion of all of the above training requirements, a probationary firefighter is required to have read copies of the WRFD by-laws, department policies and standard operating procedures. A probationary firefighter is also required to sign an agreement to follow all rules of the West Ridge Fire Department.