Sandy Volunteer Firefighter Recruitment in Full Swing

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Sandy Fire District is looking for a few great men and women to add to our already fantastic crew of volunteer firefighters.

It takes a willingness to work hard to achieve the standards of excellence that define the fire service. Therefore, Sandy Fire District is seeking those individuals who possess the courage to face the unique challenges this job presents and the dedication to become expertly trained.

If you care about your community, and are willing to dedicate yourself to becoming a professional in the field - this is the opportunity you have been waiting for.

The fire service is made up of people from all ages and is a diverse representation of our community. "There are a lot of people working as firefighters today who never considered doing this kind of a job" says Alice Busch, Public Information Officer for Sandy Fire "Once they are part of our team, and get to experience the feeling of being part of a life saving family, well…it's a bit addicting". Firefighters at Sandy Fire range in age from 18 to 61. (Sandy Fire also has students 14-18 who serve as Fire Explorers and are trained in many of the duties of firefighting. Recruitment for these positions begins in the beginning of the school year - contact DC Phil Schneider for more information: 503-668-8093 or via email at p.schneider@sandyfire.org)

"It's the best job in the world, whether you're career or volunteer, and I'm not just referring to the incredible feeling you get when you 'save a life' but also the countless opportunities you have to be there, really be there for another human being. It adds a dimension to your life that puts things in perspective" Alice Lasher, Public Information Officer for Sandy Fire District " An example would be giving fire station tours to kids. It's these types of events that keep you humble and remind you of why you're here".

If you have never considered yourself 'firefighter material' it is time to broaden your horizon.

"Being a public servant is what the fire service is about and we are looking for the kind of people who share that ethic to join our ranks" says Capt. Jason McKinnon "The majority of our firefighters live or work in the community and they care about it, they really believe in giving back, in contributing. It's that attitude that makes the whole atmosphere around the station feel welcoming and well, like you are part of a family".

Capt McKinnon says that when it comes to being a Volunteer Firefighter, 'mindset' is a whole lot more important than 'mileage'. "Our firefighters range in age from 18 to 61. It isn't their age we focus on, but rather their capability and level of integrity and dedication".

You can ignore the need or you can help address it... As communities grow, emergency call volume increases and the demands on both career and volunteer firefighters mounts. Sandy Fire District emergency response is comprised of car crashes, medical calls with only a few fires. This requires a special kind of person to stay motivated and engaged, one who is in it for the service versus the glory.

Our next Volunteer Firefighter could easily be YOU. The excellence of our training program speaks for itself. Over 65 career firefighters have their roots firmly planted in these two volunteer programs alone. Even if this is not a career path for you, consider it an excellent method of showing your commitment to community, loved ones and safety!

To be eligible for volunteer placement with Sandy Fire District you must: 

• Be at least 18 years of age,
  
• Be a high school graduate (or have GED),
  
• Share our values of Professionalism, Responsibility, Integrity, Dedication and Education (P.R.I.D.E.)

In addition, potential volunteers with Sandy Fire must enjoy a challenge and be prepared to feel a tremendous amount of satisfaction and pride in a job well done. There is no other reward as great as saving lives.

Completed applications are due no later than 5:00 pm, Nov 4th, 2011

Sandy Fire Can be downloaded from www.sandyfire.org or picked up from Sandy Fire District's Main Station (17460 Bruns Ave, Sandy) 8:00 am to 5:00 pm Monday through Friday (Call Capt McKinnon at 503-668-8093 with any questions).

Nationwide approximately 75% of all firefighters are volunteer. "To the general public, there is no difference between career and volunteer firefighters. The uniform, the compassion, the professionalism and the dedication, it's all the same. The only difference is our volunteers are doing the job virtually for free" Capt McKinnon

Volunteer firefighters are essential to the success of combination (career/volunteer) fire districts like Sandy Fire. These men and women work on a daily basis with career staff and the existing team of volunteers, and respond on every type of alarm the department receives.

Characteristics of a Firefighter:

Flexible
Can do any job under any circumstance, function as a part of any team or group and thrive in any group.

Adaptable
Firefighters need to make many sacrifices and compromises and have the willingness and ability to live and work very dynamically. They must constantly find a way to change with their environment and overcome various situations, whether they are living situations or stressful fire ground situations. Things are constantly changing for firefighters, from the environment we work in, to those we work side by side with, to the job itself. You must be able to easily adapt to new people, new settings, changing job descriptions and the changing conditions under which you perform those jobs. The ability to maintain a clear presence of mind under stress is of utmost importance and an essential part of being considered "adaptable".

Creative
When one road is blocked firefighters must be able to quickly find the detours and navigate themselves and their crew creatively through any obstacle to accomplish the tasks and goal at hand. This includes the ability to work under stress and perform your job duties under a variety of time urgent, life threatening and otherwise high stress situations.

Trustworthy
The fire department's primary recruitment concern is that we are hiring people with the utmost integrity. We want people who will ALWAYS represent themselves, their department and their profession well. Firefighters understand that they represent their department and their profession both on duty and off and that they are held to the highest standard of conduct and public opinion at all times, this requires honesty, reliability and accountability.



Author:Sandy Fire District Press Release