Fire Corps Fact Sheet

• Fire Corps is a locally-driven program under Citizen Corps that enables community members to offer their time and talents to their local fire/EMS department in a non-emergency role.

• Citizen Corps is an initiative under the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to help coordinate volunteer activities that will make our communities safer, stronger, and better prepared to respond to any emergency situation.

• Registered Fire Corps programs and their departments may be eligible for increased grant opportunities through your local Citizen Corps Council and through the DHS Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program.

• Fire Corps was launched in December 2004 and is administered on a national level by the National Volunteer Fire Council in partnership with other fire service organizations. Both volunteer and career departments have Fire Corps programs.

• Fire Corps members support fire and EMS departments by performing non-emergency tasks, enabling department members to focus on emergency response and training. There are many ways community members can contribute to their local department, including, but not limited to:

• Engaging community members allows departments to increase the services they offer, such as enhanced fire safety education programs. In return, participants gain a greater understanding of the emergency services and become better prepared to handle their own emergency situations.

• Fire Corps aids in retention and recruitment efforts of first responders. Firefighters are able to focus on the emergency functions they signed up for while Fire Corps members tackle the non-emergency tasks. Also, Fire Corps members may ultimately decide to become first responders and seek out that training.

• If citizens offer their time to support a department in a non-emergency capacity, it qualifies as a Fire Corps program and can be registered with the national Fire Corps program.