Of all the volunteer organizations out there, why should I choose the Longwood Fire Company?
   
Simply put, LFC exists to protect the lives and property of people in our response area.  When you volunteer with us, you are impacting the local community you live in, work in, or drive through every day.  Our members see the direct results of their time commitment when we help someone who is having an emergency.  There is no better feeling than to know that you are part of something that helps save peoples’ lives. 

I’m not sure I want to be an emergency responder, what else can I do with LFC?

It takes a ton of help to run the Longwood Fire Company, and we very much need non-emergency volunteers as well.

What type of commitment is involved?     
                                
We understand that everyone has demands on their time, so we do not have time requirements.  For emergency responders, there is a certain amount of training involved, and the more training you attend, the safer and more functional you can be on an emergency scene.  Responders are also encouraged to attend as many emergency calls as possible.  Non-emergency volunteers can give as little as a few hours a month.

I don’t have any emergency services experience, how will I know what to do?                                                   

No experience is needed. Longwood Fire Company will provide you with all the gear you need as well as the training required to be an active firefighter or EMT. All you need to bring is a positive attitude and a willingness to learn! Of course, any experience that you do have, we can use!

What kind of training is offered and how much does it cost?                    

LFC offers up-to-date training and equipment to better prepare our volunteers for emergency situations. Most responders enroll in Firefighter I (Essentials of Firefighting) or EMT class within their first year of membership, depending on their interest.  More advanced training such as Vehicle Rescue, Water Rescue, and Firefighter II can be taken subsequently.  We hold weekly in-house training at the firehouse to sharpen our skills and practice with our equipment.  All costs associated with training are paid by the fire company; there is no cost to the member. 

Aren’t emergency services dangerous?

It is true that there is degree of risk involved with being an emergency responder.  We manage that risk by holding safety in the absolute highest regard at all times.  Intensive training is offered so that our members can always operate safely at emergency scenes.  We also operate with a “risk versus reward” philosophy: we’ll risk a lot to save a life, but will risk little if there is no life at stake.  More than anything else, we want our members to go home uninjured from every emergency. 

I’m a high school student.  Can I join?

Although you must be 18 years old to be considered a firefighter or EMT, 16 or 17 year olds may join as junior members.

How will I know when there is an emergency call?

We are alerted by Chester County via radio pager dispatch system.  Pagers are provided to emergency responders at no cost.