How to Become a Volunteer Firefighter in Virginia

Ways to serve

Fighting fire is one way to serve, but it is not the only one. BVFD members fill several roles, and you do not have to know which one suits you before you ask:

• Firefighter
• EMT or Emergency Medical Responder, on the medical side
• Vehicle rescue and extrication
• Driver/operator of the trucks
• Support member, helping with fundraising, logistics and administration
• Junior firefighter, for teenagers aged 16 to 18

If firefighting is not for you, the EMS and support roles are worth a close look. You can serve EMS-only, and the medical side is covered in its own section below.

From application to first training, step by step

1. Apply online. The form on the join page is the official Louisa County volunteer application. You can start it under Volunteer Application.
2. BVFD reviews your application and contacts you.
3. Meet the members at a station visit or a monthly meeting.
4. Background check and membership vote.
5. Gear is issued and training begins.

The meeting comes before the vote, so you and the members get to know each other first.

The application covers your criminal history, medical history and driving record. It also asks for references, a volunteer inquiry release and a DMV/driving record authorization, among other steps. It helps to gather that information before you sit down to fill it in.

The form also makes clear that volunteer service is at-will and is not a contract, and that applying does not create employment rights or benefits.

Training and gear at no cost

You do not need any experience to start. BVFD provides all of your training at no cost to you, including:

• Firefighter I and II
• Driver/operator
• Emergency Medical Responder and EMT certification
• First aid and CPR

All protective gear and equipment are provided too. Members train together regularly at the station, and each new member is paired with an experienced mentor through the buddy program, so you are not learning on your own.

The certifications you earn are yours to keep. To see the trucks you would train on, browse the BVFD Apparatus page.

Serving on the EMS side

BVFD is an on-scene, non-transport EMS provider. Its crews respond and treat patients, but they do not run the ambulance that transports them.

On a medical call, EMS volunteers assess the patient, control bleeding, start CPR and use an AED, give oxygen, and keep the patient stable until a transport unit takes over.

You do not need a medical background, and you can serve EMS-only if firefighting is not for you. The paths are:

• CPR and AED, a common first step for new members
• Emergency Medical Responder, the entry certification
• EMT, the full Virginia EMT certification
• Vehicle rescue
• Dual fire and EMS, for members who want to serve on both sides

Virginia EMS certification is issued through the Virginia Office of EMS, and the requirements can change. If you have questions about certification, call 540-872-2400 and ask for the training officer. There is more on the join page under Volunteer as an EMT or Emergency Medical Responder.

Junior firefighters, ages 16 to 18

Teenagers aged 16 to 18 can join BVFD as junior firefighters. Juniors use the same application as every other member, and like every member, they need no experience to start because training is provided at no cost. Like other new members, juniors are paired with an experienced mentor through the buddy program.

If you are under 18, a parent or legal guardian must complete and sign the parent/guardian section of the form. Parents with questions can call the station at 540-872-2400. You can read more under Junior Firefighters on the join page.

Meet the crew before you apply

You can get to know the department before you commit to anything. BVFD's Monthly Business Meeting is held on the first Tuesday of every month at 7:00 PM at Station 3, 96 Fredericks Hall Road, Bumpass, VA 23024, and the public is welcome to attend. It is a simple way to meet the people you would serve with.

If you would rather talk first, call the station at 540-872-2400 or reach out through the Contact Us page. BVFD will talk through what membership looks like around your work and family schedule.

A few questions are worth bringing to a visit or a call:

• Which role fits your interests?
• Would you rather start on the fire side, the EMS side or both?
• What happens once your gear is issued and training begins?
• If you are under 18, what will your parent or guardian need to sign?

Frequently asked questions

Start your application

When you are ready, start the Volunteer Application on the join page. For emergencies, always call 911.