is composed of volunteers who after training by GOVERNMENT FIRE DEPARTMENT perform fire suppression and other related emergency services for a local jurisdiction. A Volunteer Fire Service can act in support of a GOVERNMNET MANAGED FIRE DEPARTMENT , or it can act as the primary response agency in an area where there is no GOVERNMNET FIRE DEPARTMENT (GFD) after being trained by the GFD with their approval
It is a reality that most of the small towns and villages in developing nations have no GOVERNMENT FIRE STATIONS. When a fire occurs the fire-fighters and fire engines should travel hours from the Revenue District Head Quarters to the fire accident place. It was found out mostly it was too late. Hence Volunteer Fire Service (VFS) called shortly as FIRE DARE
Even where there is a full-fledged GOVERNMENT FIRE DEPARTMENT, they suffer due to paucity of regular fire-fighters. Some times a series of fire accidents happen or at the same time and are not able to cope up with the demand, They can register the Fire Dare ExNoRa VOLUNTEERS to complement and supplement the challenging task of the Official Fire Department. They can themselves establish VOLUNTEER FIRE SERVICE ExNoRa FIRE STATIONS They should provide them basic and minimum fire fighting equipments
The term "volunteer" contrasts with career fire-fighters who are fully compensated for their services by the GOVERNMENT. Some volunteer fire-fighters may be part of a combination fire department that utilizes both full-time and volunteer fire-fighters. In this way, a station can be staffed 24 hours between volunteer and career fire-fighters. Both provide essential staffing on apparatuses during their assigned staffing hours.
The term "volunteer" may also be used in reference to a group of part-time or on-call fire-fighters who may have other occupations when not engaged in occasional fire-fighting. Although they may have "volunteered" to become members and to respond to the call for help, they may be compensated towards out-of-pocket expenses during the time they are responding to or attending an emergency scene, and possibly for training. An on-call fire-fighter may also volunteer time for other non-emergency duties as well (training, fundraising, equipment maintenance, etc.).
Volunteer fire-fighters go through some or all of the same training as career personnel do. When volunteers join a department, they often sign up for fire-fighting classes and other certifications that teach them what they need to know to become a volunteer fire-fighter. Examples of these certifications include Fire-fighter, Emergency Medical Responder, and Emergency Medical Technician. Volunteers should complete a certain period of in-house training. During this time, often called the probationary period, the recruit is known as a probationary fire-fighter, . Once the probationary period is complete, the member is eligible to become a fire-fighter.
VOLUNTEER FIRE SERVICE ExNoRa may be financially supported by taxes raised in a city, town, county, fire district, or other governmental entity, as well as corporate and other private donations, Corporate CSR sponsorship , grants, and other assistance fire-fighters' associations.
With these funds the VOLUNTEER FIRE SERVICE ExNoRa acquires and operates the fire-fighting apparatus, equips and trains the fire-fighters, maintains the firehouse, and possibly also covers insurance, worker's compensation, and other post-injury or retirement benefits. A VOLUNTEER FIRE SERVICE ExNoRa (or its governing entity) may also contract with other nearby departments to cover each other in a mutual aid (or automatic aid) pact as a means for assisting each other with equipment and manpower, when necessary.
Just like their paid counterparts, volunteer firefighters respond to residential, business and other structural fires. They work to suppress the fire using a number of means, including laying water lines, putting up ladders, creating necessary ventilation and entering the property, if necessary. Volunteer firefighters report to their station's Head or company officer to receive instructions. Depending on the station, volunteer firefighters may drive the fire trucks to the scene or drive their own vehicles. Volunteer firefighters also operate different firefighting apparatus, including hoses, ladders, axes and saws.
Volunteer firefighters respond to other emergency situations, such as car accidents and natural disasters. Volunteer firefighters rescue victims and provide first aid, including CPR (Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation), mouth-to-mouth breathing and wound care. Because of the high level of first aid care required, all departments require firefighters to obtain Emergency Medical Service (EMS) certification. When administering first aid, volunteer firefighters must attempt to speak to the victim or other witnesses to determine what happened. They must also try to find out if the victim has any previous medical issues that may affect emergency medical treatment.
Voluntary Firefighters divide their time between fire prevention and fire response. Routine activities include inspecting buildings for fire code violations, presenting fire-safety programs in schools, maintaining firefighting equipment, evaluating practice drills and attending hazardous materials training.
Physical stamina is needed to climb ladders, carry hoses, break down doors, operate pumps, set up hydraulic jacks and open fire hydrants. Voluntary Firefighters also assist police with search and rescue operations. Exhaustion, dehydration, smoke inhalation and muscle strain may occur, especially when a rash of fires break out. VOLUNTEER FIRE SERVICE may be injured when handling emergency situations, such as extricating an accident victim inside a mangled car along a busy freeway. VOLUNTEER FIRE SERVICE Firefighters may be emotionally traumatized if they were unable to save people trapped in a burning house.
Because of the job's physical nature, volunteer firefighters must stay in good shape and pass a physical abilities test and medical examination before working. During a fire or emergency, a volunteer firefighter may have to knock down doors or walls, carry large pieces of debris or pick up victims and carry them to safety. Fighting fires often involves crawling through extremely hot, smoke-filled and hazardous conditions and volunteer firefighters must have the necessary lung capacity and physical strength.
Depending upon the location and availability of other services, a VOLUNTEER FIRE SERVICE ExNoRa may be responsible for controlling structure fires as well as forest fires. Because it may be the only emergency services department for some distance, a rural VFS may also be fortunate to include community first responders, emergency medical technicians, Hazardous Materials response, and other specially qualified rescue personnel. Law enforcement officers may also be trained in these related duties and overlap with the VFS. The VFS may also have duties as the local fire inspectors, arson investigators, and as fire safety and prevention education, in addition to being the local civil defense or disaster relief liaison.
A volunteer of VOLUNTEER FIRE SERVICE ExNoRa is normally reached the same way as other emergency services, such as by calling 101. A central dispatcher then calls out the VFS, often through equipment such as pagers, radios, or loud signals, such as a fire siren. Average response times are longer than with full-time services because the members must come from different distances to the station or to the incident. Such departments often have a fixed number of fire-fighters on staff at any given point in time, which sometimes equals the minimal numbers recommended.
Some volunteer fire departments allow the use of Courtesy lights or emergency lights and sirens by its members. In most states that allow both lights and sirens, this is a red light and siren that gives the responding member the same privileges as other emergency vehicles. In other jurisdictions, this may be a green or blue light without a siren. The use of such equipment varies from fire district to fire district based on need for fast response, distance that members live from the fire station, the size and amount of other traffic in the fire district as well as local and state law. Some departments restrict or prohibit use of such emergency lights, even when allowed by state law, due to the increased risk of traffic accidents involving volunteers responding in emergency mode. In some states, volunteer firefighters and EMTs are eligible to receive specialty license plates for personal vehicles that identify them as trained emergency services personnel.
