The Bethel Volunteer Fire Department is always looking for new members. Whether you're interested in the fire service and/or the emergency medical service (EMS), the department can provide the training you need to make a vital contribution to our community.

Who is eligible to join? Any person 18 or older who lives in the Bethel Volunteer Fire Department's primary response area (south of Rockwell Road) are eligible to join. The department also has a cadet program for 16- and 17-year-olds. Those not interested in firefighting or EMS work can join as administrative members.

What will be required of me if I join? New members who are not certified in either the fire service or EMS are required to obtain basic certification within one year of joining. Those interested in the fire service would take the Firefighter I course. Those interested in EMS would take either the Medical Response Technician (MRT) course or the Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) course. Members are required to attend drills, which are held on the second, third and fourth Mondays of the month at 7pm, and attend the monthly meetings that are held the first Thursday night of each month at 8pm.

How do I join? Those interested in joining may obtain an application by stopping by the firehouse during any regularly scheduled drill or meeting. If you would like to get an application at another time call the firehouse at (203)778-7414. Once an application has been submitted it will be reviewed at the next monthly meeting.

Administrative members Administrative members do not respond to fire or ambulance calls, take part in drills, or require any training. Instead, they help with community activities and the business aspects of the department, such as fund-raising and committee work. The application procedure for associate members is the same as the one for regular members.

Cadets People aged 16 and 17 may join the department as junior members with their parents' consent. Junior members do not become certified in the fire service or EMS, but they do attend drills and receive other training. They are prohibited from certain fire and accident scene activities, such as entering a burning building or extricating crash victims from vehicles. However, they may assist firefighters and EMTs with less critical tasks. When junior members turn 18, they may become regular members. The application procedure for junior members is the same as the one for regular members.

Contact information
Mail: 38 South Street, Bethel, CT 06801
Phone: (203) 778-7414