• HOW CAN I GET MORE INFORMATION?

This website is a great start! However, you can stop by Station #1 any Monday night at 7:00PM, or contact us via our Contact form. 

 

Some other great resources are:

• Fire In You

• Erie County Emergency Services

 

• WHAT IF I DON'T HAVE ANY FIREFIGHTING OR EMS EXPERIENCE?

If you don't have any previous experience or training, we will send you to the appropriate training classes We provide some of our own training while other classes are provided Erie County or Erie Community College. The length of training depends on what role(s) you desire to fill.

 

• HOW SOON CAN I BEGIN RESPONDING TO CALLS?

Once you have completed all the steps of the application process and we have received the results of your wellness exam and background checks, you can begin to respond to calls.

 

• HOW MUCH TIME WILL I HAVE TO COMMIT?

The ammount of time you commit as a volunteer is up to you. The more you are involved with the company the better the outcome will be for you and the community. 

 

There are some mandatory time requirements, however, to remain a member in good standing

• Attend 10% of total annual calls (about 20 calls a year, or two calls a month).

• Attend 10 - two hour drills every year. This is the minimum. The more drills you attend, the more effective you are in the field, and everyone, including you,  will be safer.

• Four - one hour equipment checks every year. 

• Four monthly company business meetings.

• EMS personnel may have different requirements based on local, regional, and state certification requirements.

 

• I CAN'T LEAVE MY JOB TO GO TO AN EMERGENCY, IS THAT OK?

Volunteers respond when they are able. When committed at work or out of the area, we hope others will respond, and that is why it is important to have more firefighters and EMTs.

 

• IS ATTENDANCE REQUIRED FOR EVERY DRILL?

It is to your benefit and to the community's benefit if you attend as many drills as possible, however, most drills are not mandatory. We understand that as a volunteer you may have other obligations at times. Drills and meetings will keep you well informed and in practice. Certain drills are mandatory in order to meet legal requirements. We typically offer multiple opportunities to attend these mandatory drills or give you alternate methods to complete the requirements (such as web training).

 

• HOW WILL I KNOW WHAT TO DO AS A VOLUNTEER?

We run drills every Monday night. Drills and meetings are essential to knowing what to do and how to do it. 

 

• WHAT DOES A VOLUNTEER FIREFIGHTER DO?

Volunteer firefighters do it all: fire supression, providing emergency medical care, vehicle extrication, and much more.

 

• HOW MUCH WILL IT COST ME?

All costs associated with being a volunteer are covered by the Colden Fire District. This includes your training and equipment.

 

• ARE THERE ANY BENEFITS?

Other than the satisfaction you get from helping your friends and neighbors in need, some benefits available are:

• A retirement plan

• Deeply discounted cellular phones and plans through Verizon Wireless

• Tuition assistance 

• Scholarships

• New York State tax credit ($200 for every full tax year that you are a member)

• Clothing such as jackets and shirts

• Travel expenses for outside training

• Line of Duty Death Life Insurance

• Yearly wellness exams

• Full worker's compensation coverage

• ... and much more!

 

• WHAT IF I GET HURT IN THE LINE OF DUTY?

All of our firefighters are covered by the Volunteer Firefighter's Benefit through the New York State Insurance Fund. This is the same fund that many companies in New York use for their worker's compensation insurance.

 

• HOW DO I APPLY?

  1. ​Fill out and submit the Application for Membership and pay the $10 application fee.

  2. Once your application is received and reviewed, you will be contacted and asked to meet with the Executive Board (meetings are held the last Wednesday of the month). The Executive Board will then decide whether or not to recommend you to the general membership.

  3. You will be asked to attend a monthly meeting of the general membership (meetings are held the first Monday of the month). The membership will vote to accept you into the company. 

  4. Finally, you will be asked to meet with the Colden Fire District Board of Commissioners (Meetings are held the second Tuesday of the month at Station #2). The Commissioners will make a resolution to accept you.

 

 If, for some reason, you can not attend one of the meetings above, please let us know. We are always willing to work with new applicants to help them through the application process. We want you here, so we will help you through.

 

• I HAVE FINISHED THE APPLICATION PROCESS AND HAVE BEEN ACCEPTED, NOW WHAT?

Once you have been accepted by the company and district, your offer of membership is contingent on passing a health wellness exam for the tasks you wish to be involved in and the results of a required arson and sexual assault background check. The wellness exam is conducted by Ocustar, Inc and is payed for by the fire district. The background check is conducted by the Erie County Sherrif's Office.

 

• I STILL HAVE QUESTIONS.

No problem! We would be happy to answer them. Feel free to stop by Station #1 any Monday night at 7:00PM, or send us an email through our Contact Page.

 

Are you ready to unleash the Fire Inside You?