Division of State Fire Marshal
Florida Volunteer Firefighter Information
Being a volunteer emergency responder is a rewarding experience and an extraordinary way to serve your community. It takes dedication, sacrifice, leadership, and mental/physical stamina.
Approximately 12 million
Florida citizens depend on volunteer firefighters to protect their community. To
keep these residents safe, it's critical that individuals volunteer for local
departments. More than 315 departments throughout Florida utilize volunteers to
sustain operations.
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If you are interested in becoming a Volunteer Firefighter or performing Volunteer Support Services in Florida.
Definition: Volunteer Firefighter
Individual who holds a current and valid Volunteer Firefighter Certificate of Completion issued by the Division of State Fire Marshal under s. 633.408, Florida Statutes.
Definition: Support Services
Those activities that a fire service provider has trained an individual to perform safely outside the hot zone of an emergency scene, including pulling hoses, opening and closing fire hydrants, driving and operating apparatus, carrying tools, carrying or moving equipment, directing traffic, manning a resource pool or similar activities.
Definition: Hot Zone
The area immediately around an incident where serious threat of harm exists, which includes the collapse zone for a structure fire.
Florida Firefighter Assistance Grant Program
The Firefighter Assistance Grant Program was established by Florida Statute 633.135 and F.A.C. 69A-37.502 to improve the emergency response capability of volunteer fire departments and combination fire departments and provide financial assistance to improve firefighter safety and enable such fire departments to provide firefighting, emergency medical, and rescue services to their communities.Grant funding is available for training, PPE, SCBA’s, and cost share subsidy for AFG apparatus awards.
For more information on this program, click on the link below.
The FY2018-19 Firefighter Assistance Grant Program is receiving applications!
FY2017 Firefighter Assistance Grant Award Outcomes
- Grow as You Go - The Online Volunteer Firefighter Training Program
The Bureau of Fire Standards and Training has developed a new approach to train Florida’s volunteer firefighters. The Modular Online Volunteer Firefighter Program allows prospective volunteer firefighters to serve their community by completing modules until they receive their Volunteer Firefighter Certificate of Completion.
For more information on this program, click on the link below.
CLICK HERE for a link to a worksheet that may be used by Volunteer Fire Departments to record training that will enable the Bureau of Firefighter Standards and Training to issue an updated Volunteer Firefighter Certification that will reflect 206 hours of training completed.
Guidelines for the Firefighter Part 1 Certificate of Completion Program (Volunteer Firefighter Taskbook)
The standard of firefighter training as required by Florida State Statute 633 and Florida
Administrative Codes 69A-37 and 69A-62 to be a Volunteer Firefighter is the completion of Part 1 of the State of Florida Minimum Standards Course. This document provides guidelines for meeting this requirement.
CLICK HERE to view/download the Taskbook
If you have any questions about the "GROW AS YOU GO" Training Program or about opportunities to serve with the Florida Volunteer Fire Service Community, please contact:
Mr. Charlie Frank
State Volunteer Fire Coordinator
Bureau of Fire Standards and Training
The Florida State Fire College
11655 NW Gainesville Road
Ocala, Florida 34482
352-369-2808
VolunteerFirefighter@MyFloridaCFO.com
