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Firefighter

West Ridge Fire Dept

3142 West Ridge Rd
Erie, PA 16506
814-833-4440


Description
By becoming a member of the West Ridge Fire Department, you will have the opportunity to serve and volunteer to your community. The West Ridge Fire Department is one of the busiest fire departments in Erie County, averaging over 100 calls a month and over 1,200 a year. Also by becoming a member, you will have the opportunity to meet new friends and learn new skills. Some of the skills that you will learn are firefighting science, rescue operations, various level of medical training, and numerous other skills. Besides running fire and medical calls, you have the opportunity to travel to various fire/rescue/ems expos, attend numerous department wide functions like the annual banquet, 5th Monday picnics and the annual corn roast. All equipment and training that you will be required to obtain are provided and paid for by the West Ridge Fire Department.
Benefits of Joining the West Ridge Fire Department?

A Second Family and Life Long Friendships: At the West Ridge FD, you will find that the fire department is a second family to you. Whether you are staffing the firehouse or visiting the local mall, members of WRFD share a common bond. That common bond is to serve their community. You will also have the chance to establish friendships that will last a life time. The West Ridge FD is an organization where you will feel rewarded for serving your community.

Events Year Round: Every year, members along with their guests are invited to and always enjoy the annual rewards banquet held in the Fall season. Other events held throughout the year are a night out at the Erie Seawolves game, several picnic held at the picnic shelter behind Station 47 along with being able to participate in several parades throughout the year.

Training: Members have the opportunity to attend training, whether local, regional, state or nationwide FREE of charge. The training could include seminars, conferences or hands on with instructors from throughout the region or nationally.

Fitness Program: Firefighting is a tough profession. That being, the West Ridge FD participates in a program where if a member chooses to join a local fitness center, WRFD pays for 1/2 of the cost to join.

Volunteer Category: Firefighter, EMT


Requirements
To apply for membership to the West Ridge Fire Department, each applicant must be 18 years of age, be a resident of Millcreek Township, live within the WRFD response district, have a valid drivers license and have a high school diploma or a GED equivalent.

Each applicant must fill out an application for probationary membership and turn in the application to the Membership Committee. Each applicant will then go through a department interview by the membership committee and the Chief. A Pennsylvania State Police background check is also required to be completed before being presented for membership.

Once the applicant has gone through these steps, the Membership Committee will bring their findings to the general membership meeting. Each applicant will need to be present that evening that the vote is taken to be placed on probationary status. Information about each applicant will be provided to the membership about your application.

Upon being voted to probationary status, the following requirements are required to be completed during the probationary period. The probationary period can range from 6 months - 24 months. During the probationary period, a probationary firefighter is required to complete a fire department physical within the first 30 days of election to probationary membership status. The physical is at the expense of WRFD.

A probationary firefighter is required to complete the following training requirements: First responder or EMT class, NFPA Hazardous Materials Operations Class (24 hours), most current PA Firefighting Delmar Class (Essentials of Firefighting) and a state certified structural burn session (16 hours). Each probationary member is also required to attend each Monday evening training session as well as each monthly business meeting during the probationary period.

Upon successful completion of all of the above training requirements, a probationary firefighter is required to have read copies of the WRFD by-laws, department policies and standard operating procedures. A probationary firefighter is also required to sign an agreement to follow all rules of the West Ridge Fire Department.