All applications are available upon request from the Holtsville Fire Department Captain. If you have any questions, please use the contact form. Thank you, we look forward to meeting you!

The Holtsville Fire Department is always looking for new dedicated volunteers from the community. We encourage you to use the Contact Us link to reach out, and let us that you would like fill out an application so we can be sure there is someone at the firehouse to meet you. All applications are available upon request from the Holtsville Fire Department Captain. Thank you in advance for considering the Holtsville Fire Department and we look forward to meeting you!

WHAT IT MEANS TO VOLUNTEER

Whether you volunteer to fight fires or provide emergency medical services, you will be making a commitment of time—usually about seven or eight hours a week. In addition to going out on calls, you will spend time training, attending meetings, maintaining the equipment, and a variety of other duties. Of course, there is no limit to how much time you are willing to give.

There are many other ways to volunteer as well. Administrators, dispatchers, fire police who direct traffic, service personnel to provide comfort and support at the scene—these are just a few of the many opportunities that exist for adult volunteers of any age.

Volunteering requires you to devote time to learning and maintaining skills. All your training will be provided and, once your training is complete, you will be expertly prepared to respond professionally as part of your community’s first line of defense in time of crisis.

What It Means To My Family

Committing time to training and service, and being ready to respond immediately when an emergency occurs, will necessarily affect the members of your immediate family as well. In addition to being proud of your decision, they should also understand their own role as the spouse, child, parent, or sibling of a volunteer. Family always comes first, and their support and cooperation will materially affect your ability to be an effective volunteer.

To learn more about what it means to volunteer in your own community, speak with the recruitment coordinator at your local fire department or EMS unit. For helpful information regarding the respective roles of family members, the National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) has produced a 40-page booklet that you may find helpful. Download your copy of What to Expect: A Guide for Family Members of Volunteer Firefighters

VOLUNTEERING HAS ITS REWARDS

Volunteering can benefit you in many ways. Some rewards are personal. You will earn respect from everyone who learns you are a volunteer. You will gain immense pride from your accomplishments and the knowledge and skills you acquire from your training. Some of the strongest social ties you will ever make will be with your brother and sister volunteers. And, of course, there is little that can compare to the satisfaction that comes from doing an important job well while contributing to the security and welfare of your community.

There are material rewards as well. The volunteer services are valued at every level of society, and there are a variety of incentives available from the federal, state, and county government.

• Property tax reductions
• State income tax benefits
• Free health checkups
• Free insurance
• FASNY College tuition reimbursement
• Suffolk County higher education and vocational training reimbursement
• Service pensions
• Free equipment and training
• New York State Fire Training Stipend
• Suffolk County Fire Academy College Credit Information

WHAT ABOUT SAFETY & TRAINING?

The two are inseparable: volunteers train to be safe, and they are safe because they train. There is no denying that fighting fires or responding to an emergency involves an element of risk, but no volunteer is ever allowed to participate without the knowledge and skills it takes to ensure their safety.

While volunteers receive no compensation, they are no less professional than their paid counterparts. They wear and use the same equipment, receive comparable training, and prepare to respond to any situation.

Volunteer as a firefighter and you will attend the Suffolk County Fire Academy in Yaphank. In addition to learning how to handle the equipment, you will learn how buildings are constructed, how fires spread, and how to handle hazardous materials. You will be taught how to assess and respond to critical situations, and the best ways to protect yourself and those who serve around you.

To learn more about national programs to enhance firefighter safety you should visit the website for the Everyone Goes Home® initiative at www.everyonegoeshome.com.

Volunteer Firefighter Application (17+)

ALL MEMBERSHIP APPLICATIONS ARE DISTRIBUTED UPON REQUEST BY THE HOLTSVILLE FIRE DEPARTMENT CAPTAIN

HELPFUL LINKS

Below you will find some of the many online resources available to fire/EMS volunteers and potential recruits. Several are maintained by the government, while others are sponsored by private organizations. They all share a deep respect for the men and women who contribute so much time and effort to preserving the safety of their individual communities and the nation as a whole.

Suffolk County Dept of Fire, Rescue and Emergency Services
Suffolk County Fire Academy
Suffolk County Volunteer Firemen’s Association
Fire Chiefs’ Council of Suffolk County, N.Y.
Firemen’s Association of the State of New York
New York State Association of Fire Chiefs
Association of Fire Districts of the State of New York
County Fire Coordinators’ Association of the State of New York
Suffolk County Citizen Corps Programs
New York State Office of Fire Prevention & Control
Department of Homeland Security
Federal Emergency Management Agency
National Volunteer Fire Council
New York State Emergency Management Office
Firehouse magazine
Fire News magazine
Fire Rescue 1
Firefighter Nation
International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC)
National Fire Protection Association (NFPA)