Becoming

Volunteer Firefighting is a very rewarding and valuable way to serve your community. It takes dedication and many hours of training to become a firefighter. If you are willing to put in the time and effort, the Airport-Sorgho Fire Department is ready for you to serve. Below you will find frequently asked questions about becoming a volunteer, as well as a few basic steps to take towards volunteering.

The Basic steps to becoming a Volunteer Firefighter

1. Make sure you’re ready to commit. Making the decision to become a volunteer firefighter should not be taken lightly. It requires hundreds of hours of training and a strong commitment to service.

2. Contact the Airport-Sorgho Fire Department and complete an application and background check process. Applications can be picked up, completed and submitted on Tuesday evenings after 7:00 pm at the station.

3. Once you are accepted to the department, you will be placed on probation for 90 days. You will also enter a training program that requires a minimum of 150 hours in selected courses. The length of the training program will vary with each candidate.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What qualifications do I need to become a volunteer firefighter? You must be at least 18 years of age, possess a valid Kentucky state drivers license and insurance, and reside in the departments response area or fringe area of the department.

2. What is the first step to volunteering? If you are ready to commit the time and effort to become a firefighter then contact the Airport-Sorgho Fire Department and submit an application.

3. Do volunteers get paid? No. The volunteer firefighters at Airport-Sorgho do not get paid. However, each member can qualify for an incentive pay at the end of the year if they meet the minimum requirements of training and actively participating in fire department functions and responses. This amount is at the discretion of the department and each qualifying member receives equal amount regardless of rank.

4. Can a volunteer position lead to a career in firefighting? Yes. Most career departments require experience before hiring these days and volunteering is one of the best ways to get the necessary training and experience to be an attractive candidate for a career firefighting position. The Airport-Sorgho Fire Department prides itself on the fact that many of its members, both past and present, have gone on to lead successful careers in the fire service with career departments as well as in the EMS field.

5. How many hours do firefighters work? There are no actual minimum hours of work required. However the department does encourage all of its members to exceed the minimum number of 50 hours of training annually and to respond to as many fire and EMS calls that they are available for.