WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP FIRE & RESCUE DEPARTMENT Station 72 Lucas County, Ohio

Your help is needed…Volunteer!

ABOUT VOLUNTEERING

Pride, excitement, challenge. Volunteering for fire and rescue service offers committed individuals the opportunity to experience one of the most diverse and challenging professions today. The emergency services provided by WTFD include providing prompt emergency medical care and transport, fire suppression, vehicle extrication (“jaws of life”), water & ice rescues and other types of specialty rescues, and responding to other 911 dispatched calls. It’s exciting, exhilarating and rewarding!

The personal rewards and satisfaction each of us receives from volunteer service are often beyond description. The sense of accomplishment after controlling a building fire, the joy and elation when a child is born, the compassion for accident victims, the fulfillment of teaching fire safety and prevention—the list goes on.

When volunteers aren’t running calls and providing emergency services, they participate in:

Education: Volunteers educate the public on many issues, including fire prevention and safety, health education, injury prevention and CPR.

Community Events: Members participate in various activities such as Point Place Parade, EMS stand by at Whitmer High School and Shoreland School football games, Halloween Trick or Treat patrol and bringing Santa around the community at Christmastime on our very own “Polar Express”.

VOLUNTEER BENEFITS 

• Free Training
• Pay per call/training/duty
• Worker’s Compensation

Intangible rewards are even greater:

• Satisfaction of helping others and making a difference
• New bonds with team members and with members of the community
• Skills that last a lifetime

VOLUNTEER APPLICATION PROCESS

• Applicants must be 18 years of age at time of appoinment, must have a High School Diploma or Equivalent.

• Applicants must reside within Washington Twp. OR within a 1 mile radius of the firehouse (2469 Shoreland Ave.)

• Washington Township Fire Department will accept applications at anytime. Training Academies will be held twice per year: Winter Academy (January Start) and Summer Academy (June Start)

• Completed applications must be submitted no later than the First Wednesday in October for Winter Academy start or no later than the First Wednesday in April for Summer Academy start.

• Applicants are encouraged to attend and observe regular department Wednesday evening training drills throughout the application process.

• Background check consisting of criminal & driving history will be conducted beginning at the application cutoff dates. Applicants with existing Ohio Certifications in Firefighting or EMS will also have these verified at this time. Applicants who have been convicted of a felony or a violation of ORC 2903.3 (arson) are ineligible by the State of Ohio to hold a certification as a firefighter or EMT and will be automatically dismissed from the hiring process.

• A physician’s exam must be completed and the WTFD supplied documentation of such must be submitted prior to performing the Physical Endurance & Abilities Test (PHEAT). Applicants with medical or physical conditions/disabilities that in the examining physician’s assessment will prevent them from performing all the duties of a Firefighter/EMT as stated on the supplied form will be dismissed from the process.

• A Physical Endurance & Abilities Test (PHEAT) will be conducted for all applicants prior to the start of the Academy. Applicants will be given a copy of SOG 1-08 when their application is submitted so they may review and understand the basics of the PHEAT test. Applicants who fail this test may have an additional opportunity for ONE retest. Applicants who fail a second time will be automatically dismissed from the hiring process.

• Applicants who complete all required documentation, pass the background check, physician’s exam and PHEATS will be submitted to the Washington Township Board of Trustees for hiring approval at the Board’s December meeting (Winter Academy start) or May meeting (Summer Academy start).

• The first Academy classroom session will be held the first weekend of January (unless the New Year’s Day holiday falls on that weekend) for Winter Academy or the first weekend of June for Summer Academy.

• Training classes for recruits will be held once per month for 12 months. Recruit Firefighters must attend all of these academy classes, in addition to outside Firefighter and EMT certification classes, regular department training drills, work details, runs, meetings, etc. 

• Recruits must acquire Ohio Certification as both a Volunteer Firefighter and an EMT-Basic before the end of their probationary period.