Be A Volunteer Firefighter Larchmont Fire Department

For more information, review our Recruiting Brochure or submit our Information Request Form.

America has a long tradition of volunteer service. In many communities, volunteering is an economic necessity. However, most volunteers also fulfill a call to civic duty, and receive the satisfaction of helping their friends and neighbors. More than half of all fire departments in the United States are staffed entirely or substantially by volunteers. Volunteer or combination (mixed volunteer and paid) departments are the most common approach to fire protection in smaller communities, especially in the Northeast. The Village of Larchmont's 100-year tradition of a combination department fits with the pattern of similar smaller communities.

Larchmont is subject to many demographic trends that affect volunteerism. Residents balance family and community life with the demands of professional careers. The time and energy for volunteer service is limited, and the obvious choices involve activities of short duration. The idea of serving as a volunteer firefighter raises images of midnight alarms, evening and weekend training, and potentially hazardous and difficult service at fire scenes. Therefore, many residents never consider the idea of joining the Fire Department as a volunteer. However, the reality is different from many commonly held perceptions:

Volunteer firefighters are not expected to give up their careers and family life. In fact, the minimum level of participation for voting membership in the Department is 15% of specified activities and alarms. Obviously, a volunteer's ability to respond to alarms is limited by being away from Larchmont for professional or personal reasons, being ill or injured, or having other pressing commitments that must receive priority. The basic idea is to have enough members so that, if each member responds when it is practical, the overall level of response to each alarm is sufficient.
A volunteer firefighter is not expected or allowed to take inappropriate risks at a fire scene, expecially if they do not have the experience, training, ability, and aptitude for a particular task in attacking a fire. As explained below, there are many jobs to be performed at a fire scene, and only the most experienced and trained members of the Department are assigned direct firefighting responsibilities in challenging situations. Other firefighters perform essential supporting functions.

The basic approach to fire and emergency protection in Larchmont involves teamwork between the paid and volunteer members of the Department. The paid staff provide ongoing coverage and operational support at the Fire Department, and drive the fire apparatus to a fire scene in response to alarms. The paid staff also serve as trained and qualified first responders to medical emergencies, because they can respond within minutes to anywhere in the Village.

Volunteers report directly to a fire scene, responding to the Department horn as well as pagers. At a fire, the volunteer and paid staff work as a team executing one of a range of attack plans depending on the circumstances. While volunteers can and do perform every function associated with fighting a fire, only those with considerable training and experience are positioned to directly attack the fire. There are many other essential functions at a fire scene involving connecting hoses, positioning and restocking equipment and supplies, as well as crowd and traffic management. Safety is paramount, and safety is achieved by careful planning, strict command and organization, and consistent preparation and training.

The Satisfaction of Service

So, why should you consider joining the Larchmont Fire Department? Our members can offer the following reasons to consider membership.

Fire Protection is a very interesting field, applying advanced technologies and professional skills to help people when their lives and property are at stake. As a volunteer firefighter, you will learn about:

the engineering of buildings and their protection systems,
the operation of complex fire protection apparatus,
the operation of advanced equipment such as carbon monoxide sensors,
first response life support skills such as CPR, and
leadership and teamwork under conditions of challenge and stress.

Depending on your level of interest and available time, you will be eligible to participate in training programs at the local and regional level.
As a volunteer firefighter, you participate in the most exciting, interesting, and rewarding situations. Our paid professional firefighters support the Department in many ways that are necessary but perhaps uneventful, like waiting through the night for an alarm that never sounds, or readying equipment for the next alarm. However, volunteers become involved only when their active participation is really needed to respond to an alarm, or to participate in essential training.
Your experience as a volunteer firefighter provides an opportunity to serve your community, your neighbors, and your friends, at times when their lives and property are at risk. Your service is rewarding because you are helping when they need help the most.
You will share in the pride, professional spirit, and friendship among the members of the Department. Within the Department, the Companies maintain social and professional activities that enhance and enrich your experience.
Your service as a volunteer enhances the quality of life in Larchmont. Our Village is a wonderful place to live not only because of the beauty of our homes, neighborhoods, and parks, but also because Larchmont is a place where people care about one another, and take an interest in the life of the community. Just as volunteering with the PTA and the Soccer League provides a connection between neighbors and community, volunteering in Fire Department provides another connection that enriches our community while preserving lives and property.

Training

Effective training is essential to achieve timely, effective, and safe emergency operations. The Department requires new members to complete the "Essentials of Firemanship" course offered through the Westchester County Training Academy within 1 year of confirmation as a member of the Department. This is a 39-hour course that is frequently available in several schedule formats. For example, it can be completed during evenings over a period of months, over a series of Saturdays, or intensively over one week during regular working hours.

Volunteer firefighters are also expected to attend training activities provided at the Fire Department and at other sites in Larchmont. These sessions are conducted by members of the Department.

Additional training opportunities are periodically available for volunteers to learn how to operate firefighting apparatus, or to learn about new techniques and firefighting strategies. Members are selected for these special programs based on their interest, level of participation, and the needs of the Department.

Basic Obligations of Membership

A volunteer member of the Fire Department, not serving as an officer, has the following obligations:

Initial Training: Complete the "Essentials of Firemanship" course within the first year of service.
Inservice Training: Participate in regularly scheduled inservice training offered by the Department at least to the extent required for active membership as explained below.
Attendance: Achieve and maintain an attendance level of 15% of the following activities: scheduled meetings, scheduled training activities, and alarms.

While future levels of activity cannot be predicted, based on past levels of activity, a volunteer member can maintain active status by attending two scheduled organizational and training meetings each month. If the volunteer can respond to several alarms per month, consistent with the volunteer's other obligations, this would constitute a very satisfactory level of participation. While many of our members participate more frequently, the Department's basic expectations of volunteer members permit members to balance their service to the community with their family and career obligations.

Eligibility for Membership

Membership in the Fire Department is open to all residents of Larchmont over the age of 18, and to a limited number of non-residents who live in nearby communities. Men and women are encouraged to join.

Getting More Information

For more information about membership, For more information, review our Recruiting Brochure or submit our Information Request Form. or call the Department's administrative number at 834-0471, and a member of the Department will meet with you to provide further information about membership.