Volunteer Members

We are always looking for people to join our fire department. In addition to needing firefighters and EMTs, we need people to serve in supporting roles. If you are interested in learning new skills, or if you would like to serve your community, consider joining the department. We need:
   •   firefighters
   •   EMTs
   •   traffic controllers
   •   folks to clean the stations
   •   folks willing to prepare food for extended incidents
   •   folks to serve on the fire board
   •   folks to serve on CLPFEG board
   •   folks to help with slash pile burning
   •   folks to help with chipping
   •   grant writers
   •    fundraisers

Your Poudre Canyon Fire Department is composed of neighbors and residents just like you. Your Fire Department provides emergency medical, fire suppression, and rescue services to the nearly 1500 residents across 99 square miles of our district. In addition, we are the first responding agency to another 150 square miles. Each year, your volunteers respond to approximately 100 emergency calls, including assisting mutual aid partners of Livermore, Red Feather Lakes, Crystal Lakes, Glacier View, Rist Canyon, and Poudre Fire Authority. Your volunteers provide over 5000 volunteer hours annually as a department in their mission to protect life, property, and the environment. Every day, your department stands ready to answer the call of families, friends, and neighbors in need of assistance. From car accidents to heart attacks, from house fires to back-country rescues, from downed power lines to wildfires, your volunteers are there to protect lives and property.

Becoming a volunteer emergency responder can be the most rewarding experience of your life and allows you to reach out to someone in need. You can help ensure there is always someone to answer the call.

What are the requirements for membership? Prospective members must be at least 18 years old and possess a valid driver’s license and a clean driving record. Members must be able to pass a background investigation. They must live or work within the boundaries of the district. Most importantly, members must possess the desire to make a difference in their community.

What experience is required? None. While prior emergency responder experience is always valuable, the department will provide you with the training you will need.

What is the time commitment? Members are expected to participate in monthly training (a minimum of 36 hours annually). In addition, we answer approximately 100 calls a year. Members are expected to respond to a minimum of 5 calls. A typical call may be less than one hour or may involve several hours.

Will I have to complete months of training before I can participate? No. If you are available when your pager goes off, report to your assigned station. We will not ask or allow you to do anything you are not trained for, but there will always be something for you to do. New members will participate in the same training as existing members. Periodically the department will conduct a “mini-academy” to train basic firefighting skills. All volunteer members who do not have any firefighter experience will be expected to fully complete the mini-academy when it is offered.

Am I expected to pull shifts? No. Members do not stand shifts at the station. You will be issued a pager and will respond to the station from your home or workplace and then to the incident.

What are the physical requirements? Members come in all shapes, sizes, and ages, but they must be able to perform basic physical tasks. There is an annual fitness test for wildland firefighting. Members must be in good physical condition and may be requested to provide a statement from their physician.

Do I need to buy any equipment? No. The department will provide you with all the Personal Protective Equipment you will need, including wildland and structure firefighting gear. However many of our volunteers do buy some equipment they want.

But aren’t volunteers amateurs? No. Our training follows state and national standards to ensure that members are properly trained for all eventualities. Firefighting, rescue, and medical training are provided by members with experience or certified trainers.

What if I get hurt? We perform an inherently dangerous mission, but train to do it safely. The department provides insurance and worker’s compensation to members to assist them in the event of an injury.

For more information contact Hugh Collins, Chief at 970 881-2472 or complete this application.

Poudre Canyon Fire Protection District provides its members with adequate training and sufficient protective equipment to function properly in an emergency setting. We make every effort to provide a safe working environment. However, the inherent risks of emergency services mandate that we can’t guarantee total safety all the time. It is important that the candidate understands these risks and the commitment necessary to function with our organization.

A member of the Poudre Canyon Fire Protection District is commonly required to perform in severe conditions. These include extreme heat, cold, smoky, or toxic conditions at any hour of the day or night. A member may be required to perform strenuous physical activities including heavy lifting, pulling, or pushing. A member may be required to enter burning or unstable areas and extreme terrain in order to perform rescue, EMS, or extinguishment activities.

In addition to the above, on EMS (ambulance) calls the member may be confronted with hostile or violent patients. Some may require physical restraint. On EMS or rescue calls, the firefighter could also be exposed to communicable diseases, and blood or body fluids.

Members of this district must never respond to calls or training under the influence of alcohol, illicit, or prescription substances or medications which could impair judgment or performance. These medications include but are not limited to: antipsychotics, tranquilizers & narcotic pain relievers.

The member is required to attend practical and classroom training sessions as specified by the district to attain a required level of competency. It is expected that members will put in a minimum of 36 hours of training per year.

The member will function within the framework of the organization. This includes following orders from superior officers, maintaining patient confidentiality, and always acting in the best interests of the Poudre Canyon Fire Protection District.

If you are interested in joining the department, please complete this online application and submit it.

Thank you for your interest.

We ask that all volunteers commit to 36 hours of training and that they respond to five incident or service calls (slash pile burning, chipping or fundraising activity) each year. New volunteers need to take S130 and S190 wildfire training classes. These are offered online just click on the class number. The field day for these classes is offered at different times. In addition, the new volunteers need to take the online courses ICS 100, ICS 200 and ICS 700. When completed, copies of the certificates should be given to Hugh Collins, Fire Chief and Tony Falbo, Training Officer.