The Basics
Being a volunteer takes time, commitment and dedication. Our volunteers serve in Administrative and/or Operational capacities. The difference is: administrative members do not respond to emergencies and operational members do. All members must meet Eligibility requirements.
ADMINISTRATIVE MEMBERS are the backbone of the station. They focus on fundraising, station and equipment management, department leadership, business development, community relations, fire prevention, health screening, teaching CPR and Stop The Bleed classes, and recruiting. Lorton does not conduct Bingo and never ask our volunteer to do so. Administrative membership is an excellent opportunity for individuals who want to be part of the team and serve their larger community in a variety of ways. For those currently not able to qualify as operational members, joining now and learning the ropes administratively is a great way to get a jump start for when one can apply as operationally. Administrative members go through much of the same initial training as operational members do. Such training in general operations, patient privacy, and practical education is useful and can be applicable in one’s life and service to others. All volunteers are required to participate in station fundraising projects including bingo and hall rentals.
OPERATIONAL MEMBERS are well-trained EMTs and Fire Fighters who respond to emergencies in the Lorton community and across the county. They are trained through the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Academy in the same courses as the career staff and are required to maintain the same certifications as professional Firefighters and EMTs. It can take 12-14 months to complete the minimum training, the curriculum is challenging but the work is incredibly rewarding. All volunteers are required to participate in station fundraising projects including bingo and hall rentals.
There are two types of operational membership:
ADMINISTRATIVE MEMBERS are the backbone of the station. They focus on fundraising, station and equipment management, department leadership, business development, community relations, fire prevention, health screening, teaching CPR and Stop The Bleed classes, and recruiting. Lorton does not conduct Bingo and never ask our volunteer to do so. Administrative membership is an excellent opportunity for individuals who want to be part of the team and serve their larger community in a variety of ways. For those currently not able to qualify as operational members, joining now and learning the ropes administratively is a great way to get a jump start for when one can apply as operationally. Administrative members go through much of the same initial training as operational members do. Such training in general operations, patient privacy, and practical education is useful and can be applicable in one’s life and service to others. All volunteers are required to participate in station fundraising projects including bingo and hall rentals.
OPERATIONAL MEMBERS are well-trained EMTs and Fire Fighters who respond to emergencies in the Lorton community and across the county. They are trained through the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Academy in the same courses as the career staff and are required to maintain the same certifications as professional Firefighters and EMTs. It can take 12-14 months to complete the minimum training, the curriculum is challenging but the work is incredibly rewarding. All volunteers are required to participate in station fundraising projects including bingo and hall rentals.
There are two types of operational membership:
- EMS only: Learn and provider Basic Life Support services as supplemental staff to a professional paramedic units and/or as primary staff on an Ambulance, as the Ambulance Driver, BLS Unit Officer, or EMT. The EMT-B certification can be earned by operational members through the department as a matter of basic training provided free of charge.
- Firefighter + EMS: Provide both fire suppression and Basic Life Support services as a supplemental minimum staffing fire fighter and BLS provider on professional fire apparatus, paramedic units, and ambulances. A current EMT-B certification is mandatory before applying to the Fire Academy, also free of charge.