Who can be a volunteer firefighter or EMT?

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  If you have the desire to serve, you can be a volunteer firefighter or EMT. You don’t need any prior experience in emergency services; you will receive the training you need when you join the department. 

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What are the benefits of being a volunteer firefighter or EMT?

Volunteer first responders help their fellow citizens in times of need. Volunteers enjoy a sense of accomplishment, achievement, and pride in the work they do. In addition, volunteers get to learn new skills, make new friends, be a part of a team, give back to their community, and make a real difference.

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What are the minimum requirements I need to meet to be a volunteer firefighter or EMT?

​Our minimum age requirement is 18 for Seniors and 14 for Juniors
Meeting a minimum education GED of equivalent for seniors.

Juniors must maintain a C average while enrolled in school
Having a valid Illinois driver’s license 
Passing a background check
Must meet the physical demands of firefighting
Live within 3 miles of our fire boundary

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​Any questions Contact Us at 618-931-0161
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 ​What kind of training do I need?

 

​​​Once you sign up to be a firefighter or EMT, you will need to be trained. Training requirements vary. In house training and online training are mandatory and some training you will receive certificates for the course taken.
In general, here at Mitchell Fire Department you may be asked to complete certification training for one or more of the following: Firefighter I, Firefighter II, Emergency Medical Responder, Emergency Medical Technician, Hazmat Awareness, Hazmat Operations, Traffic Incident Management, Wildland Firefighter

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What will I do as a volunteer at Mitchell Fire Department?

Fire Suppression
Emergency Medical Services
Hazardous Materials (Hazmat) Response
Search and Rescue
Traffic Incident Management (TIM) and Highway Safety
Public Information and Education
Inspections
Fundraising
Public Events

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Are there ways I can help my local department without becoming a first responder?

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  Yes, we often utilize community volunteers to assist with the non-emergency tasks of the department. One example would be we have a Junior program and a Ladies Auxiliary program. This frees up the firefighters and EMS personnel to focus on training and response activities, while enabling community members to provide needed support to help their local department run. Activities may include fundraising, translation services, incident pre-planning, community outreach, fire prevention and life safety education, providing rehab at incident scenes, and much more..

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