Evergreen Volunteer Fire Dept. Accepting Applications

EVERGREEN, CO -- The Evergreen Fire Department is seeking applicants for the 2018-2019 Volunteer Fire Academy. The academy is open to residents of the 120 square-mile Evergreen Fire Protection District, with some exceptions made, according to the department's FAQ sheet.

Evergreen Fire and Rescue responds to about 2,200 emergency calls per year, from eight fire stations located in the district. Volunteers receive a small "per call" stipend and work side-by-side with full-time members of the Evergreen Fire and Rescue. A volunteer can be expected to participate in 20 percent of active calls, or between 60-80 per year, the department said.

Volunteers are often the first people on the scene in medical emergencies, the department said in a statement:

A majority of the calls are medical where volunteers may be the first person on scene due to our neighborhood response system, however, our firefighters also respond to structure fires, wildland fires, water rescues, vehicle accidents and many other public requests for service.

Volunteers carry a minitor radio that receives a verbal page from the 911 dispatcher. Where applicable, volunteers typically respond to a fire station and ride in a fire truck to the location. However, due to the size of the district and the philosophy of our "neighborhood response" volunteers frequently drive their vehicles directly to the scene.

Volunteers must be able to pass physical fitness tests including a timed obstacle course with hoses and dragging a 125 lb. dummy 100 feet. They must also pass a test to make sure they are not afraid of closed spaces (claustrophobia) or high places (acrophobia). Volunteers must also hike three miles with a 45 lb. backpack in less than 45 minutes.

The VFD academy takes about nine months and meets weekly Monday evenings, as well as some full-day Saturday classes. In addition, VFD members must participate in an additional 36 hours of training yearly to maintain their status. Classes take place at 1802 Bergen Pkwy, Evergreen.

The following certifications will be granted to VFD members at the end of the academy:

● Colorado Fire Fighter 1 (FFI)

● Emergency Medical Responder (EMR)

● CPR for First Responders

● Colorado Hazardous Materials Operations (HazMat-Ops)

● NIMS 100, 200, 700, and 800

● NWCG S130/190/180 (Wildland Firefighting Red Card)

For questions regarding the process, interviews and testing, the class schedule or other concerns you may contact Carol at chucker@evergreenfirerescue.com or 303-674-3145 and she will offer assistance or redirect you to an officer for recruiting.

Find out more:

EVFD Application for 2018-2019 Academy

Volunteer Firefighter Job Description

FAQ About the Academy

Image via Evergreen Fire & Rescue