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Virginia Fire Corps
“Citizens Helping the Fire Service”
Citizens Helping Fire and EMS Video
About Fire Corps
Fire Corps, the newest of five Citizen Corps partner programs, was launched in December 2004. The program was created to complement the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT), the Medical Reserve Corps (MRC), the Neighborhood Watch/USAonwatch, and the Volunteers in Police Service (VIPS). Each partner program represents and supports emergency responder disciplines. They also share a common goal - to create opportunities for Americans to help communities prevent, prepare for, and respond to natural disasters, terrorism, crime, public health issues, and all other emergencies.
Fire Corps is funded through the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and oversight is provided by the U.S. Fire Administration. The program is made up of a partnership between the International Association of Fire Chiefs’ Volunteer and Combination Officers Section, the International Association of Fire Fighters and the National Volunteer Fire Council. Collectively, these organizations along with members from the Fire Corps National Advisory Committee, consisting of nearly every national organization representing the fire services today, provide critical feedback, support and ideas for the ongoing sustenance of the program.
The Fire Corps program promotes non-operational community support through volunteerism. The main goal of the program is to support and supplement resource-constrained fire departments at all levels – volunteer, combination, and career. Simply put, the program seeks to help local fire and emergency service organizations get the help they need, thus enabling them to dedicate more time towards their core mission – responding to and preparing for emergencies. Some examples of volunteer non-operational support include:
- Program marketing/public relations assistance;
- Carbon monoxide and smoke alarm home installations;
- Home and child safety seat checks;
- Administrative tasks, such as bookkeeping, meeting facilitation, answering phones or filing reports;
- Grant writing;
- Rehab unit staffing during routine and major incidents;
- And, the list goes on!
Virginia Fire Corps – A New Initiative!
The Commonwealth of Virginia recognizes the opportunity and potential of the Fire Corps Program for both Virginia’s fire service and the communities they serve. As a member of Virginia's Citizen Corps Council, the Virginia Department of Fire Programs (VDFP) is charged with promoting Fire Corps in Virginia to both fire and emergency organizations and the public. At the program level, VDFP's primary function is to assist Virginia's Fire Service with the successful implementation and ongoing sustenance of Fire Corps through marketing, outreach support, and resource identification. Currently, there are 43 active, registered Fire Corps in Virginia.
Fire Corps in Virginia will help local fire and emergency service organizations do the following:
- Increase capacity – increases department's ability to provide additional services to the community and sustain ongoing programs, thus enhancing services;
- Link community and the fire service;
- Generate advocates;
- Focus on core mission - responding to and preparing for emergencies!
Why Fire Corps? – Additional Benefits
Implementing a Fire Corps Program will prove invaluable for Virginia's Fire Service. Beyond the benefits listed above, organizations that implement and maintain the program will enhance their service delivery and community partnerships. Citizen volunteers that participate in the program will have the opportunity to learn more about their local fire and emergency service organizations needs, as well as support them in carrying out critical activities, such as:
- Promoting fire safety and prevention;
- Reporting incidents and entering statistical data (ex. Patient care reports);
- Fundraising;
- And, providing canteen services at routine or major incidents.
Virginia Fire Corps Mission Statement
To assist Virginia fire and emergency service organizations with the successful implementation and ongoing sustenance of Fire Corps through marketing, outreach support and resource identification.
Getting Started
- Virginia's Fire Service
- To get more information about Fire Corps or to start your own program, review the following resources:
- Resources for Implementing Fire Corps
- Marketing Resources
- Sample Documents
- Coming Soon! Virginia Fire Corps Information Workshops
VDFP will sponsor several information sessions throughout the Commonwealth to provide an overview of the program, funding opportunities and assistance with program registration. The dates and locations for the sessions will be posted shortly.
- Funding Opportunities
- To get more information about Fire Corps or to start your own program, review the following resources:
- Citizens
- Fire Corps not in your Community?
Start your own program. - There are several things you can do to help get a program started in your community:
- Contact your local fire/EMS department. Letting them know about the program and your interest in helping them is the first step. If you live in a community with a career (paid) fire/EMS department then the best first step is to contact the department's public information officer or Chief. If you live in a community that has a combination (paid and volunteer) or volunteer fire/EMS department, the best first step is to contact the departments Chief or President, or if they have one, their public information officer to inquire about starting a program. Remember they may have no knowledge about the program, so having information like the resources located at www.firecorps.org on-hand will be very helpful.
- Coming soon! Toll free Fire Corps number – call this line to obtain information on Fire Corps opportunities.
- Fire Corps not in your Community?
Search for a Program
There are two ways to find Fire Corps programs in your area. You can either enter your zip code and how far from your zip code you would like to search and the database will produce a listing or you can click on Virginia on the map to see all the Fire Corps programs in your area. Search for a program.
There are 43 Fire Corps Program(s) for Virginia. Click on each fire department name to view program details.
Everything You Need to Get Started
The Fire Corps website is your source for reference, technical, and marketing information to help design, enhance, and promote Fire Corps programs.
- Resources for Implementing Fire Corps
- Material, Logo, And Profile Request Forms
- Marketing Resources
- Sample Documents
- Pandemic Flu Resource Center
- Fire Corps National Preparedness Month Resource Center
Frequently Asked Questions
