Support your community
Central Douglas Fire & Rescue invites you to apply for our dedicated team of volunteers who play a vital role in protecting our community. As a volunteer, you’ll gain invaluable experience, develop essential skills, and make a real difference in the lives of those around you. Whether you’re interested in firefighting, emergency medical services, or community outreach, there are numerous opportunities to get involved. Together, we can strengthen our community’s safety and resilience while building lasting friendships and camaraderie.
Nature of Work
This is advanced firefighting work in combating, extinguishing, and preventing fires, responding to hazardous materials incidents, and emergency medical calls which include special rescue situations such as vehicle and steep angle rescue. Work involves training for and participating in duties of protecting life and property through the performance of firefighting and emergency medical service activities. Volunteer Firefighters are required to learn and participate in the operation of apparatus and the performance of hazardous task under emergency conditions which may require strenuous exertion under such handicaps as smoke, fire, heat and cramped surroundings. Although firefighting and emergency medical services work constitutes the primary and most difficult and responsible areas of work, the volunteer is also required to attend Tuesday night drill at least twice a month from 1730-1930hrs.
Drills consist of practice sessions dealing with various aspects of firefighting, rescue, hazardous materials awareness, and emergency medical work. Time spent at the station may consist of studying, custodial care and a wide variety of maintenance of departmental facilities, apparatus and equipment. Work is usually performed in accordance with explicit instructions and well defined procedures, however, performance of the work requires initiative and the exercise of independent judgement. Work is performed under the general supervision of a Lieutenant.
Opportunities
Central Douglas Fire & Rescue supports three types of volunteers: Regular volunteer firefighters, support volunteers and student volunteers.
Regular volunteers serve the community by responding to a wide variety of situations ranging from emergencies that immediately threaten life or property to routine citizen requests for information or non-emergent assistance.
Support volunteers are members who do not enter hazardous environments. They help at emergency scenes in areas such as rehabilitation, running errands for command, as well as a number of other non-hazardous activities. They also help with fire prevention and education activities such as our Smoke Alarm Program.
Students volunteers are members who are looking at making firefighter a career and are participating in the cooperative work experience program at Umpqua Community College. We encourage our student volunteers explore UCC’s Emergency Medical Services or Fire Science programs to prepare themselves for a career in the Fire Service. Along with additional training by our career staff, the student volunteers are trained to the NFPA/DPSST Firefighter 1 certification level.
Volunteer drills are held every Tuesday evening at the Melrose or Winston Fire Stations from 1730 to 1930 hours. The first Tuesday of each month is a business meeting held at Garden Valley Fire Station. Volunteers are also welcome to attend any paid drills held during the week.
Requirements for Work
- Shall hold a current valid Oregon Drivers License, or have the ability to respond to calls
- Considerable knowledge of Fire Authority policy and procedures
- Knowledge of the principles and practices of firefighting and fire prevention work
- Considerable knowledge of departmental apparatus, tool, and equipment and their proper use
- Ability to climb ladders and work at considerable heights
Let’s Talk
Want to learn more about careers and volunteer opportunities with Central Douglas Fire & Rescue? Please feel free to connect with us through the form below and a member of our team will get back to you.
