The Spalding township fire department’s most valuable resource is our personnel. Our personnel have many reasons they have joined the department including helping their neighbors. Our members are volunteers who do not get paid to be firefighters. The department is always looking for dedicated volunteers who are willing to serve to help their neighbors.
Like any other job, training is a requirement for volunteers too. Our members are certified to the Michigan Fire Fighter II level, Hazardous Materials Operations level, and are required to attend a emergency vehicle driver training course to learn the correct way to drive a fire truck. Even though this is minimal training our volunteers have also continued their education to include classes in firefighter safety, scene management, and fire officer certification. The minimum required training includes:
Firefighter I & II: 250 hours
Hazardous Materials Operations: 24 hours
Emergency Vehicle Driver Training: 6 hours + in station driving
Total Minimum Training Hours: 280 hours
Our department puts considerable emphasis on training. The department meets three times a month. These meetings include a monthly business meeting (the first Thursday of every month), department work meeting (the day before the business meeting), and department training meeting (the Wednesday after the business meeting).
The department is always looking for new members. To become a member you must be 18 years of age, live in Spalding Township or within 7 road miles of the station, and be willing to commit to completing the initial training and participating in the monthly meetings of the department as well as responding to calls. After deciding you are willing to commit the time to become a volunteer firefighter you can ask any member for an application or attend one of the above listed meetings to see if becoming a firefighter with our department is something you would like to do. You will be given an application which will be reviewed at our business meeting and forwarded to the Township Board for approval.
The department also has implemented a Cadet program which offers individuals 16 or 17 years of age the opportunity to join the department and complete the initial training. The Cadet candidate must have their parent’s or guardian’s permission to participate. The Cadet’s job duties are slightly limited due to State and Federal Laws however it is a great opportunity for the Cadet to help to serve his or her community and be part of a fire department.
Would you like to join our Fire Department? Click here to download Spalding Township Application for Township Volunteer Firefighter. Please drop filled form into dropbox located on the Township Hall.