Become a volunteer with Vashon Island Fire and Rescue
Vashon Island Fire & Rescue offers the opportunity to serve the Vashon / Maury communities as a Firefighter, Emergency Medical Technician, or Fire Support member. Volunteers receive training for their role in exchange for a service commitment. Upon completion of minimum certifications, volunteers are granted a stipend package for doing duty shifts and ongoing training. Benefits also include enrollment in a retirement plan through the Board of Volunteer Firefighters.
Volunteer Applicant Requirements:
- 18 years of age
- Valid WA state driver’s license with acceptable driving record
- High School diploma or GED
- Current CPR & First Aid card (for Firefighter and EMT applicants)
Volunteer Positions:
Firefighter
Volunteer firefighters respond to fires, motor vehicle accidents, and rescue scenes. The minimum training includes testing for IFSAC Firefighter I and Hazardous Materials Awareness and Operations. After completion of initial minimum certifications, the ongoing training is generally two Monday nights per month. Firefighters who do not reside on Vashon must be EMT certified.
Emergency Medical Technician (EMT)
Volunteer EMT’s provide patient care at emergency medical incidents and transport patients to hospitals as the aid car driver or technician. Sponsorship to the King County EMT class is provided to Vashon residents accepted into the volunteer EMT program. The EMT class is held in Kent on Wednesday evenings and all day on Saturdays for 14 weeks. For applicants outside of Vashon, prior completion of an EMT class is required. Initial training also includes a VIFR in-house EMT Academy, which consists of ride-along shifts to complete supervised patient care and additional skills. After completion of academy the ongoing training is generally two Monday nights per month.
Fire Support
Support members are Vashon residents who respond to fire scenes to perform tasks outside of the hazard area. Their main function is to drive water tenders from fire stations to the scene. Other roles include traffic control, filling air bottles, and setting up lighting. The Fire Support Academy is typically one month on Wednesday evenings and Saturdays, plus one-on-one driver training. After completion of academy the ongoing training is the third Wednesday of every month.
Volunteer Entry Process:
- Complete application in Bamboo: Volunteer Firefighter | Volunteer EMT | Volunteer Support | Volunteer FF/EMT
- Submit applicable documents
Firefighter: CPAT verification letter dated within past 12 months from National Testing Network or Public Safety Testing.
EMT: copy of BLS Healthcare Provider card (Vashon residents applying for EMT class), copy of EMT certificate or EMT Course Completion certificate from past 12 months and NREMT test certificate for off-island applicants.
- Submit copy of driver’s license and Driving Record Abstract from http://www.dol.wa.gov/driverslicense/requestyourrecord.html
Applicants invited to continue in the process must pass an oral board interview, background screening, psychological evaluation, and medical examination.
Upon completion of minimum required certifications, volunteers are required to fulfill a minimum of three 12-hour duty shifts per month for a minimum of 18 months. An Agreement will be executed between the District and the Volunteer that details this commitment.
For questions or more information please contact Christina Bosch, Human Resources, at cbosch@vifr.org or (206) 463-2405 ext. 328.