Welcome to a Life-Changing Volunteer Experience
Who We Are
Our roots go all the way back to 1915, when we were incorporated as the first fire department in Montgomery County. We have a proud history of service to the Silver Spring community, supporting our neighbors with lifesaving services on their worst days. If you have the time and dedication to volunteer, we hope that you might consider joining our efforts.
Our volunteers come from all over the community and come from a diverse background. Many of our volunteers are career professionals with a desire to serve their communities in a way that is vastly different from their day jobs.
We find this work to be extremely fulfilling and many have been with the department for decades. We organize periodic open houses where you’ll be able to engage with current members directly about their experiences.
What We Do
Here in the SSFD, we focus most of our efforts on Emergency Medical Services by placing our volunteer ambulance in service to support the county’s EMS capacity. Over the past decades, and thankfully so, fire related calls have been on a decline. The majority of our calls, about 80%, are related to medical emergencies. Because of this trend, the SSFD focuses most of our efforts building and supporting EMS. We do have limited opportunities for Firefighting. For those who have strong interest in fire science, we’re happy to connect you with some of our other partner departments who have a robust program in that area.
Training Requirements
- Complete Volunteer Basic Orientation Course (VBOC)
- Complete Protective Envelope and Foam Course (PEAF)
- Complete Hazardous Material Course (HAZMAT)
- Complete Emergency Medical Technician Course (EMT)
- EMT classes are conducted both virtual and in-person and classes typically meet 2 weekday nights followed by one weekend day (in-person for practical skills).
- EMT classes last approximately 4 months and have a ride-along component.
- During EMT class, volunteers are required to meet the standby requirements described below.
Membership Requirements
- Attend at least 6 monthly membership meetings every year
- Staff SSFD units during two (2) twelve hours shifts per month
- Successfully clear both a fit for duty physical exam and background check.
- Complete pre-requisite and NREMT courses within the first two years of your membership (8+ months of classwork scheduled to accommodate full time employees)
Volunteer Benefits
- All training, uniforms, and equipment are provided at no cost to our members. (Many volunteers across the country are required to pay for these goods and services out of pocket.)
- Meals while on duty are reimbursed.
- Length of Service Awards Program.
- Maryland state income tax and property tax deductions.
- Scholarships and tuition reimbursement.
Next Steps
Unlike most of our other fire departments, the SSFD currently onboards new volunteers twice a year in cohorts that feed directly into required courses that are offered in the spring and fall. Due to class/training schedules, this affords for the most streamlined volunteer experience.
The first step in becoming a member is to attend an open house. Please fill out the form below to receive information.
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