The Cooperstown Volunteer Fire Department serves the greater Cooperstown community through fire protection, rescue
and emergency medical services. The Department is a division of the Village government of Cooperstown, as such,
members are technically unpaid village employees. Equipment and supplies are included as part of the village budget
each year, and cover vehicle maintenance and fuel expenses. Donations make up the remainder of the Department's
operating budget.
Once received by the officers of the Department, this packet will be reviewed, and your name will be read at the next
regular meeting. A panel of Department officers will interview you, and the Otsego County Sheriff’s Department will
complete a required arson background check. Squad applications will be voted on at a Squad meeting, and will then be
forwarded to the Fire Department for vote at it's next monthly meeting.
Membership is broken into four primary categories - Fire & Rescue, EMS, Fire Police and Fire Corps.
Fire & Rescue - Firefighters work as part of a team to provide fire protection, extricate accident victims, and provide
rescue services. Firefighters provide these services on roadways, afield, and on the waterways in and around
Cooperstown, as well as providing mutual aid assistance to neighboring communities.
In addition to providing fire protection, members may receive specialized training in water rescue, dive or ice rescue,
wildland search, rope rescue and other topics. All training is provided to members free of charge.
Emergency Medical Services (Cooperstown Emergency Squad) - Members receive free training, either in-house or
through the Otsego County Office of Emergency Services. CPR training is the minimum level required to assist on
ambulance calls, while many members go on to seek training as First Responders, Emergency Medical Technicians,
Critical Care Technicians and Paramedics. Each level of training builds on the last, and squad members have each spent
many hours of their own time to reach their current level of state certification.
Fire Police - Members of the Department that provide traffic control and security at emergency scenes and Department
events are part of the Fire Police. Fire Police members receive specialized training, and are sworn peace officers of NY
State.
Fire Corps - Community members who interested in helping their community, but for various reasons choose not to work
in one of the above categories of membership, may choose to join the Fire Corps division of the Department. Fire Corps
members provide administrative support, record keeping, fundraising and other support services to the Department
without responding to emergency scenes. Fire Corps members do not accrue LOSAP credit.