volunteer firefighting

[JoeCanuk 3]

Does anyone know when we are allowed to join a volunteer fire department? Do we have to wait until we are permanent residents or U.S. citizens? I'm just wondering, if anyone knows for sure. Thanks.

[Carlawarla 1]

Don't know why you couldn't Joe. I started volunteering here long before I got my GC. Wasn't a problem for anyone. Was only asked at my interview about "was I currently employed for pay". I said no. Because I wasn't! lol Go...start volunteering! Great way to meet new people and to embrace your new country!

Carla

[YuAndDan 153]

The Police department has the US Citizen restrictions. Volunteer firefighting does not have the citizenship requirement.

Contact the fire department in the city or town you will be living in and ask.

[Flames9_RN 359]

I did my EMt B back in 2005 and had plans of volunteering, BUT many of my classmates stated that the new volunteers did BINGO!!! I said what is bingo?? Ya know the game!! I guess they stuck the new people out trying to raise money, and bingo was one of their methods! 1 guy stated it took him a year to get any training. Hopefully it isn't run that way where you are.

[FutureAmerican 2]

Police Departments do not always have a US Citizenship restriction - it depends on the state and the individual department rules - e.g. here in Colorado there is no state requirement for US Citizenship, yet Denver PD require it, although many others such as Co.Springs do not.

Alaska Can work in ANY department with just a Green Card

Alabama Citizenship required by state law

Arkansas Citizenship Required by state law

Arizona Citizenship required by state law

California Will take you on a green card provided you are eligible and have already applied for Citizenship

Colorado Can work in MOST departments with just a green card, no POST type requirement for citizenship.

Connecticut POST requirement for Certification

Washington DC POST requirement for Citizenship

Delaware No State requirement for citizenship, however I cannot find any department that doesn’t require it.

Florida State law requires Citizenship

Georgia POST requirement for Citizenship.

Hawaii Can work in any department with just a green card

Iowa ILEA (POST) requires citizenship.

Idaho POST requires Citizenship

Illinois– No State requirement for Citizenship, SOME departments will take you on a green card (Incl. Chicago PD)

Indiana POST type requirement for Citizenship

Kansas State Law requirement for citizenship.

Kentucky POST type requirement for Citizenship.

Louisiana No state requirement for Citizenship, about 50% of departments will take you with just a green card.

Massachusetts No state requirement for citizenship, several departments available that will hire with green card.

Maine No state requirement for Citizenship, about 75% will take you (including state police) with just a green card and the state police academy doesn’t require citizenship.

Maryland State law requires Citizenship

Minnesota State POST requirement for citizenship.

Michigan MCOLES (Post type thingy) requires Citizenship.

Mississippi State Dept of Public Safety requires citizenship

Missouri POST Requirement for Citizenship

Montana POST requirements state that Quote “Must be a US citizen, but MAY be a lawful resident alien” whatever that means.

Nebraska State law requires Citizenship.

Nevada POST requirement for Citizenship.

New Hampshire State requirement for Citizenship.

New Jersey State requirement for Citizenship

New Mexico State requires citizenship

New York State requires Citizenship

North Carolina POST requires Citizenship

North Dakota POST requirements state that they will take you with just a green card – See the following link http://www.iadlest.org/ndakota/POSTS2.html

Ohio No state or post requirement for citizenship, Spoke to several departments who stated over the phone that they would hire Green card holders.

Oklahoma Will take you on a green card – see the following CLEET standards link - http://www.oscn.net/applications/os...p?citeID=91596/

Oregon Will take you on a green card – BUT you HAVE to attain Citizenship within 18 months else your certificate will be revoked.

Pennsylvania Citizenship required by state

Rhode Island Citizenship required but I cant find the legal basis behind the requirement.

South Carolina - Citizenship required but I cant find the legal basis behind the requirement.

South Dakota Will take you on a Green card but you must “declare intent to become a naturalized citizen as soon as eligible”

Tennessee State law requires citizenship

Texas Recently changed law means that In order to be certified by the TCLEOSE (POST) agency you have to be a US citizen. Previously there was no Citizenship requirement.

Utah - State requirement for Citizenship

Vermont no Citizenship Law - Will take Green card holders, Incl. the State Police

Virginia POST requires US Citizenship – BUT will waive the Citizenship requirement if good reason is shown and such a waiver is filed on form “DCJS Form w-1 application of waiver for minimum qualifications” Chiefs of Police and Sheriffs have the authority to approve this application for waiver – as does the POST agency.

Washington No legal requirement for citizenship, nor any POST type requirement, however I only found two small departments that will take you with a green card.

West Virginia No state requirement for citizenship, several major departments will take you on a green card (incl the state police)

Wisconsin Cannot find any information as per a state requirement for Citizenship. Most departments websites require it – however the State police DOES NOT.

Wyoming Citizenship required by state law.

Washington DC Citizenship required by state law.

I can't take credit for compiling the list above, it was done by another ex-pat Brit who moved to the US a while back, and did all the research! Hope that it helps anyone with similar questions.

[JoeCanuk 3]

Thanks for your help everyone. The police departments list was very helpful too. I will contact the nearest volunteer dept. It's a bit more difficult cuz I live in a city with a paid dept. But there are a few volly ones around the area.

[mendeleev 68]

Police Departments do not always have a US Citizenship restriction - it depends on the state and the individual department rules - e.g. here in Colorado there is no state requirement for US Citizenship, yet Denver PD require it, although many others such as Co.Springs do not.

Washington DC Citizenship required by state law.

I can't take credit for compiling the list above, it was done by another ex-pat Brit who moved to the US a while back, and did all the research! Hope that it helps anyone with similar questions.

Hmm. Washington DC is not a state, so it can't have a state law. If it were a state, then the people who are there would get voting representation in Congress, which they don't have. That is, they have "taxation without representation". Seems to me there was a revolution somewhere about that once upon a time ....

[aidan80 9]

I could be wrong here and if I am then I imagine a few people need to get fired but .. I'm in Florida and I don't think it's a State requirement to be a citizen in order to become a FF. I'm aware of a number of non US Citizens working as EMT/FF for a department in Florida. FFI/FFII certificate classes do not appear to require citizenship for entry, although law enforcement does. Most law enforcement agencies require citizenship in their job postings, fire departments don't appear to request the same from what I've seen so far. Unless there is some strange law and allows Counties or Cities to layout their own requirement's citizenship wise?

[aidan80 9]

Does anyone know when we are allowed to join a volunteer fire department? Do we have to wait until we are permanent residents or U.S. citizens? I'm just wondering, if anyone knows for sure. Thanks.

Correct me if I'm wrong here but... I'm not too sure if you can legally volunteer without evidence that you have legal status to stay/remain in the US, you may need your SSN first\EAD\GC? I don't know about where you are but here some departments appear to allow their volunteers to claim certain expenses. I don't know if that could be seen as an income to the government? I'm also aware that some departments may sponsor volunteer FF's (after a period of time) to attend minimum standards, if they don't already have them. That type of sponsorship may require proof of your SSN/EAD/GC at the college. All of this could be totally different where you are, this is how appears to be here.

One other word of advice would be contact the administration for your cities fire department, contacting the nearest station may give you mixed results depending on who you talk to and what type of night they just had. Another thing to do is Google for a County Fire Department/Administration and departments in nearby towns\cities. Don't always think that because it's a paid department that it won't accept volunteers! Although I suppose what I just said could be different from department to department and different yet again state to state?

Good Luck!

[JoeCanuk 3]

Just an update guys: My local volunteer department requires citizenship. Go figure.

I could get on the paid department with a green card but not the volly department. I'm trying to figure out the reasoning behind this.

[Uncle Wally 2]

Just an update guys: My local volunteer department requires citizenship. Go figure.

I could get on the paid department with a green card but not the volly department. I'm trying to figure out the reasoning behind this.

Really? I thought the only requirement was a mustache...

[Carlawarla 1]

Just an update guys: My local volunteer department requires citizenship. Go figure.

I could get on the paid department with a green card but not the volly department. I'm trying to figure out the reasoning behind this.

Just another stupid rule eh? You have your GC, maybe you should apply for the paid work now.

[aidan80 9]

Just an update guys: My local volunteer department requires citizenship. Go figure.

I could get on the paid department with a green card but not the volly department. I'm trying to figure out the reasoning behind this.

That sounds weird, actually it sounds kind of wrong! I'd talk to someone at the top of the food chain. Sometimes the lower down the chain you get the less they know! Like I said before check the local fire colleges and see what the costs are for minimum standards. If it's something you want to do.. a few months in school and apply for a paid position.

Good luck!

[JoeCanuk 3]

Thanks you guys. Yeah it is a very stupid rule and I'm still scratching my head trying to figure it out.

It'd be nice if I could apply for the paid department but I will turn the maximum age to apply this year and they're not hiring right now. Even if they were there'd probably be more qualified guys than me. I was just content to join the volunteer department.

[aidan80 9]

Thanks you guys. Yeah it is a very stupid rule and I'm still scratching my head trying to figure it out.

It'd be nice if I could apply for the paid department but I will turn the maximum age to apply this year and they're not hiring right now. Even if they were there'd probably be more qualified guys than me. I was just content to join the volunteer department.

Don't think because your not the "most qualified" that wouldn't mean you don't have a chance. There are plenty of guys out there even older guys just out of school getting selected. I never thought some departments would have an age limit?.. A lot of places are not hiring so that's understandable.

Have you looked at other cities, counties or maybe the forestry dept see if they would take you on as a volunteer or what their age limits are, if any? If I where you and if this is something you want to do I'd dig in and fight on till you get a place somewhere or hired!