Membership Application
What does it take to be a volunteer?
- No previous first responder experience is required.
- Volunteering requires your time, not your checkbook – all the costs associated with training/equipment are covered by the fire department.
- A desire to help your community, your neighbors, and possibly your own family.
- It takes time to learn, train, and maintain the skills necessary to assist in emergency situations.
- Dedication. Being a volunteer service, the community relies on our members to attend meetings/calls when they are available.
Who can become a member?
- Anyone – We have had men and women who are stay-at-home moms, engineers, accountants, military members, construction workers, mechanics, farmers, and a variety of other professions, who have been incredibly dedicated members.
- The Centralia-Peosta Fire Department is responsible for our own fundraising, record keeping, and the other normal business operations of the department. All of these tasks are performed by the volunteer members.
Is there any age restrictions?
- You must be 18 years or older to join CPFD.
Why should I become a member?
The rewards vary from individual to individual, here are just some of the benefits that members have noted:
- Department funded training for multiple first-responder courses and continued education.
- Pride of serving and volunteering within your community.
- The opportunity and the ability to make a positive impact in the Centralia-Peosta communities and surrounding areas.
- Development of new skills and abilities.
- Explore new areas of interest.
- Connect with and meet new community members.
- Trainings are fun!
How do you get notified of Emergencies?
- We utilize a radio/pager dispatch system to alert the department that help is needed.
- Pagers/radios are provided at no cost to firefighters.
- Some members are provided radios to listen and talk to dispatch, other department members, and other fire departments during mutual aid.
- A limited number of scanners are also available, they allow members to listen, but not talk on county radio frequencies.
- CPFD also utilizes “I Am Responding,” an app that allows members to receive text-based notifications and select whether or not they are available for other members to see in real time.
What if I’m at work and an incident is reported?
- It is a volunteer service. No one can be available at all times. While some employers are willing to let employees leave for an incident, others may not be able to do so.
- We currently do not have a minimum incident attendance requirement as everyone has different schedules and lives outside of CPFD.
How much training is required?
- We encourage new volunteers to complete either the Fire Fighter I course or a First Responder (EMR/EMT) course in the first year of membership. All training is paid for by the department.
- Our team meets most Monday nights for drills, business discussions, and event planning.
I filled out and submitted an application to become a member of CPFD…what happens next?
- After and application is received, it will be reviewed by department-elected CPFD Officers.
- Upon approval of the application, the applicant will be invited to participate in drills with current CPFD members.
- The department body will then hold a vote to approve applicant as a probationary member.