The Junior Volunteer Program is in full swing and strictly for candidates that are 16 or 17 yrs of age.

Duties of our Junior Volunteers mimic those of our Volunteer Firefighters and Volunteer EMTs as described under the “Opportunities” and “Benefits” tabs.

All interested candidates first need to be connected to one of our volunteer stations that offer a Juniors Program, they are required to go through the formal application process which is briefly outlined below. The overall time frame to complete the process is about 3-6 months and ultimately depends on how diligent the individual is with progressing through each stage.

In addition to the Volunteer Application documents listed below, a state work permit along with a Juvenile Court Record from Juvenile Services at the courthouse are required.

1. Volunteer Application – Includes 3 documents plus supporting items such as color headshot, valid state ID, copy of high school or college diploma. (current high school transcripts or a recent report card are acceptable for 16-17 yr olds)
2. Fingerprint Appointment – Completed at the Cranford Graves Fire Services Building at 6820 Webster Street, Hyattsville, MD 20784. (Instructions to be provided)
3. Background Investigation – Begins after applicant is fingerprinted.
4. Physical Exam – Must be completed at Concentra Onsite Medical Center located at 4451 Parliament Place, Suite F, Lanham, MD 20706.
5. FEMA Training – Online courses IS100 and IS700 to be completed at FEMA website. (Instructions to be provided)
6. Volunteer Recruit School – Online self-paced course via County’s training platform – Target Solutions. (Instructions to be provided)
7. Department ID’s – Issued by the Fire Commission office upon completion of entire process.

The most important piece of information for Junior candidates to remember is that our volunteer opportunities are a serious time commitment. All training and certifications are paid for by the department, and obtaining the required Firefighter or EMT training can take anywhere from 18 to 36 months.

Current companies participating in the Juniors Program:

Bladensburg, Morningside, Bowie, Berwyn Heights, Boulevard Heights, Branchville, Capital Heights, Hyattsville, Greenbelt, Laurel Fire, and Laurel Rescue.

The Junior Explorers Program is not yet available due to lack of funding.

This program will be offered for youth between the ages of 14-18 years of age and will operate like an after-school club.