Frequently Asked Questions:
How do I apply to become a Volunteer? If you are interested in becoming a Volunteer, please send an email to membership@lafdbss.org and include
your name and contact information. You will be contacted as to when an orientation will be scheduled.
What is the process of becoming a Volunteer? In order to become a Volunteer, you must complete the following:
Orientation - A 2-3 hour orientation familiarizing you with the program and it's requirements.
Interview - An interview will be conducted in front of a panel of the command staff, who will determine if you qualify to continue into the training process.
Basic Training Course - This is a 14 week program geared to give you the basic knowledge of handling the tasks of a Volunteer. You must complete this
training to qualify to become a Volunteer.
Background Check - A background check is given to all new candidates and volunteers interested in becoming a Volunteer. You must pass a complete
background to qualify.
Continued Training - In this program, training never ends. You are required to complete additional training throughout
the year in order to qualify for certain activities and incidents.
Are Volunteers firefighters? No, a Volunteer does not perform any functions of a firefighter. It is our goal to provide a service to the Fire Department
thereby allowing uniformed Department members to be utilized to their greatest capacity without interfering with their task. We would never displace any
active member from their position.
How often should I expect to be called to an incident? The number of incidents that a volunteer could be called out to can vary dramatically. In one
month, you may be called upon 5, 6, 7 or more times. Or...none at all! There is no minimum requirement of incidents that you must respond to in order for
us to keep you in the program, we are all volunteers and understand that work and family must come first. You must however show some sort of minimal
participation every few months in order to be considered for a response. Training, cleaning, or other volunteer activities regularly come up during the
months.
Would I be placed on a platoon schedule? And what would my obligation be on those dates? (You can view a platoon schedule by clicking on
"Shift Calendar" from the menu bar.) Yes, you would be placed on a platoon schedule. The purpose of the platoon schedule is to give you some kind of
idea what dates you would be called on first in the event of an emergency or incident that Support Service would be activated for. It is not a requirement
that you always be available on your scheduled platoon day, but it's something for you to keep in the back of your mind that you might be called first on that
day. This also allows for a better rotation of volunteers, not allowing preferences of one person who might always be available during the day.
How are Volunteers dispatched? A Volunteer Coordinator is notified from OCD (the LAFD Dispatch Center) that a request has been made for
volunteers to respond to an incident. Details are given such as the type of incident, number of department members on scene, the estimated duration of
the incident, and the location to respond to. The Volunteer Coordinator then starts contacting other volunteers (based on platoon) who would be available
to respond. Volunteers NEVER self-deploy or self-dispatch. All incidents must be managed by a Volunteer Coordinator.
What is the minimum age requirement for a Volunteer? You must be 18 years of age to volunteer with this program. If you are not yet 18, you may
want to look at other programs that LA City has to offer. You may find some of them at www.lafd.org.
What is the difference between a Volunteer and any other LA City Volunteer?
The biggest difference of a Volunteer is that we fall under the Bureau of Support Services and report directly to the Los Angeles Fire Department. There is
no other outside agency or group that monitors or determines our funding or activities. We only work and respond for the Los Angeles Fire Department.
Our primary focus is to the members of the Los Angeles Fire Department. This program is designed to serve the community by servicing the people who
serve the community. Some of the functions that Support Service Volunteers provide are specific and solely unique to our program and no other LA City
Volunteer program would provide these services.
Do Volunteers get paid? No, Volunteers receive no monetary compensation for their time and commitment. As well, no volunteer is permitted to solicit
services or discounts that are sometimes given to paid members of the department.
What if I only want to volunteer in my community? To the Volunteers, all of LA City is our community. We are subject to be called out to anything
within the city, and on occasion, incidents outside the city. You have the right to decide what incidents you respond to, and if you only choose to respond to
incidents in your community, then that is your choice. We will however always make all incidents throughout the city an option to you.
Who can I contact with questions about the Volunteer Program? You can address all questions to membership@lafdbss.org and your question will
be directed to the appropriate person.
How do I apply to become a Volunteer? If you are interested in becoming a Volunteer, please send an email to membership@lafdbss.org and include
your name and contact information. You will be contacted as to when an orientation will be scheduled.
What is the process of becoming a Volunteer? In order to become a Volunteer, you must complete the following:
Orientation - A 2-3 hour orientation familiarizing you with the program and it's requirements.
Interview - An interview will be conducted in front of a panel of the command staff, who will determine if you qualify to continue into the training process.
Basic Training Course - This is a 14 week program geared to give you the basic knowledge of handling the tasks of a Volunteer. You must complete this
training to qualify to become a Volunteer.
Background Check - A background check is given to all new candidates and volunteers interested in becoming a Volunteer. You must pass a complete
background to qualify.
Continued Training - In this program, training never ends. You are required to complete additional training throughout
the year in order to qualify for certain activities and incidents.
Are Volunteers firefighters? No, a Volunteer does not perform any functions of a firefighter. It is our goal to provide a service to the Fire Department
thereby allowing uniformed Department members to be utilized to their greatest capacity without interfering with their task. We would never displace any
active member from their position.
How often should I expect to be called to an incident? The number of incidents that a volunteer could be called out to can vary dramatically. In one
month, you may be called upon 5, 6, 7 or more times. Or...none at all! There is no minimum requirement of incidents that you must respond to in order for
us to keep you in the program, we are all volunteers and understand that work and family must come first. You must however show some sort of minimal
participation every few months in order to be considered for a response. Training, cleaning, or other volunteer activities regularly come up during the
months.
Would I be placed on a platoon schedule? And what would my obligation be on those dates? (You can view a platoon schedule by clicking on
"Shift Calendar" from the menu bar.) Yes, you would be placed on a platoon schedule. The purpose of the platoon schedule is to give you some kind of
idea what dates you would be called on first in the event of an emergency or incident that Support Service would be activated for. It is not a requirement
that you always be available on your scheduled platoon day, but it's something for you to keep in the back of your mind that you might be called first on that
day. This also allows for a better rotation of volunteers, not allowing preferences of one person who might always be available during the day.
How are Volunteers dispatched? A Volunteer Coordinator is notified from OCD (the LAFD Dispatch Center) that a request has been made for
volunteers to respond to an incident. Details are given such as the type of incident, number of department members on scene, the estimated duration of
the incident, and the location to respond to. The Volunteer Coordinator then starts contacting other volunteers (based on platoon) who would be available
to respond. Volunteers NEVER self-deploy or self-dispatch. All incidents must be managed by a Volunteer Coordinator.
What is the minimum age requirement for a Volunteer? You must be 18 years of age to volunteer with this program. If you are not yet 18, you may
want to look at other programs that LA City has to offer. You may find some of them at www.lafd.org.
What is the difference between a Volunteer and any other LA City Volunteer?
The biggest difference of a Volunteer is that we fall under the Bureau of Support Services and report directly to the Los Angeles Fire Department. There is
no other outside agency or group that monitors or determines our funding or activities. We only work and respond for the Los Angeles Fire Department.
Our primary focus is to the members of the Los Angeles Fire Department. This program is designed to serve the community by servicing the people who
serve the community. Some of the functions that Support Service Volunteers provide are specific and solely unique to our program and no other LA City
Volunteer program would provide these services.
Do Volunteers get paid? No, Volunteers receive no monetary compensation for their time and commitment. As well, no volunteer is permitted to solicit
services or discounts that are sometimes given to paid members of the department.
What if I only want to volunteer in my community? To the Volunteers, all of LA City is our community. We are subject to be called out to anything
within the city, and on occasion, incidents outside the city. You have the right to decide what incidents you respond to, and if you only choose to respond to
incidents in your community, then that is your choice. We will however always make all incidents throughout the city an option to you.
Who can I contact with questions about the Volunteer Program? You can address all questions to membership@lafdbss.org and your question will
be directed to the appropriate person.
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