(NAPSI)—Joseph Maruca didn’t exactly mean to join the volunteer fire service. It was April 1977, and the then high school senior had gone to the hardware store to purchase cement for footings on his family’s deck. As he was arriving, he saw smoke coming up from behind a restaurant across the street.
Maruca did what many people would do—he went over to see what was going on. What he didn’t expect was for a firefighter to call over to him that he needed his help. “He handed me the nozzle to the red booster hose and told me to drag it into the woods following the hose already on the ground, and hand it to the firefighters I would find,” recalls Maruca. “I did it.”
When he returned, the firefighter who originally called out to him asked him for additional assistance to help put out the brush fires. “He put a small water tank on my back. Then told me to follow the hose, and when I got to the fire to turn right and spray water on any fire I saw as I walked along the edge of the burning woods,” Maruca said.
When it was over, Maruca was asked to come to the fire station where he was recruited on the spot as the newest volunteer. He continued to serve as a volunteer firefighter until 2005, when he became a paid chief of a fire department that uses both paid and volunteer firefighters.
While joining a volunteer fire department requires more training and preparation now than it did in 1977, one thing holds true—it is neighbors helping neighbors. Anyone with a desire to serve their community and give back in an impactful way can become a fire service volunteer.
What Does It Mean to Volunteer in the Fire Service?
About 65% of U.S. firefighters are volunteers, and 82% of fire departments are staffed either entirely or mostly by volunteers. Small town and rural communities especially depend on volunteers to be there to respond to emergencies of all kinds, from structure and wildland fires to medical emergencies and vehicle crashes, to natural disasters and hazardous materials incidents.
Most volunteer fire departments have a variety of operational and non-operational roles they need filled. Operational roles include firefighters, EMS providers, and driver/operators. Non-operational functions include fire prevention education, fundraising, administration, and other support tasks.
Training depends on the volunteer role and is provided by the department.
What Are the Benefits of Volunteering?
Fire service volunteers learn skills that will help them in emergencies, in life, and in their careers. However, it is the intangible benefits that most firefighters cite as their reasons for joining and staying in the fire service. Giving back to the community, helping others in need, building lifelong friendships, and being part of a tight-knit team are all factors in why people volunteer.
Some fire departments also offer tangible benefits such as stipends, tuition assistance, retirement accounts, and even tax breaks or exemptions.
“Although I have now retired from the fire service, it will always be a part of me,” said Maruca. “The memories and experiences I have had and the relationships I have built will stay with me forever. It gets in your blood and becomes a part of who you are and defines your place in the world.”
How to Join the Volunteer Fire Service
The National Volunteer Fire Council maintains a web site at makemeafirefighter.org where people can learn more about the volunteer fire service and find local opportunities. Prospective volunteers can also contact their local fire department directly to find out about volunteering.
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"About 65% of U.S. firefighters are volunteers, and 82% of fire departments are staffed either entirely or mostly by volunteers."
