ECFR serves the community with a combination of full-time, part-time, and volunteer members. We have recently reconfigured our volunteer program to provide flexible options for men and women who want to serve the community, gain new knowledge and skills, and develop experience as an emergency responder.

•  Are you seeking a challenge?
• Do you want to serve the community and help others?
• Are you interested in a fire and rescue service career?

If you answered yes to one or more of the preceding questions, becoming a volunteer with East County Fire and Rescue (ECFR) may be for you! No experience required and all training and equipment is provided at no cost to you.

The district has implemented two options for volunteer service to provide increased flexibility and increase opportunities to serve. Volunteers may schedule their available time to work alongside our full-time and part-time members providing initial response to emergency incidents. Volunteers living in or near the community can respond from home to staff district apparatus and respond to larger emergencies requiring increased staffing. Volunteers may choose one of these service models or combine them schedule time to serve as an on-duty volunteer and respond from home when needed.

 The district’s full- and part-time firefighters are all certified as firefighters and emergency medical technicians (EMT’s) and are also qualified to drive and operate fire apparatus. Many types of emergency response can benefit from additional staffing with a narrower skill set. Response to a medical emergency does not necessarily require a volunteer to be trained as a firefighter. Response to a fire does not necessarily require a volunteer to be an emergency medical technician. In addition, driving and operating a water tender (large vehicle used to provide water supply where there are no hydrants) requires knowledge and skill in operating this type of fire apparatus, but not necessarily training as a firefighter or EMT.

ECFR’s volunteers can choose to train as firefighters, emergency medical technicians, apparatus operators, or to serve in a combination of any of these roles.

  No experience is required ECFR provides training for firefighters and apparatus operators using in-person classroom and hands on training, independent study, and on-the-job training and work experience. This model allows volunteers to begin serving the community right away and increase the scope of their duties as they develop the necessary knowledge, skills, and qualifications. Emergency Medical Technician Training is available through the Fire District 5 Training Center or local community colleges (Portland Community College and Mount Hood Community College).

Eligibility requirements:

• Must be at least 18 years of age
• High school diploma or GED
• Valid driver’s license

Applicants will participate in a panel interview and if successful must complete the following:

• Criminal and driving record background check
• Medical exam
• Drug Screen