Ignite Your Future in Fire and Emergency Services

The Dorchester County Fire Rescue Junior Firefighter Program is an exciting opportunity for young men and women 14 or older who are interested in exploring a career in fire and emergency services. Our program is designed to provide hands-on experience, leadership development, and an in-depth understanding of the roles and responsibilities within the fire service.

What is the Junior Firefighter Program?

The National Volunteer Fire Council’s (NVFC) National Junior Firefighter Program supports fire and emergency service departments by fostering relationships and engaging youth in learning about, and ultimately becoming, members of the emergency services. The program serves as an umbrella for junior firefighter programs nationwide to promote youth participation within the fire and emergency services community. It is crucial to attract people into the emergency services while they are young so that they form a lifelong connection, whether as a first responder or as a community supporter.

Junior firefighter programs give our nation’s youth the chance to learn about local fire, rescue, and emergency medical services response organizations in a safe, controlled, educational, and fun way and provides them with valuable life skills such as teamwork, leadership, responsibility, and commitment. It also provides the department with nonoperational support and a powerful recruitment mechanism.

Why Join the Junior Firefighter Program?

Participating in your local fire department is an extremely rewarding experience that will provide you with valuable life skills such as teamwork, leadership, responsibility, and commitment and the opportunity to learn about your local fire, rescue, and emergency medical services response organizations in a safe, controlled, educational, and fun way.

• Hands-On Training: Participate in live drills, simulations, and emergency response scenarios.
• Leadership Development: Build leadership skills through structured training and mentorship from seasoned professionals.
• Career Exploration: Discover the many career paths within fire and emergency services and receive guidance on how to pursue them.
• Community Service: Contribute to the safety and well-being of your community through volunteer activities and public safety education.
• Teamwork: Be part of a close-knit team that works together to achieve common goals in high-pressure situations.

What You'll Learn

As a member of the Fire Rescue Junior Firefighter Program, you'll receive comprehensive training in:

• Firefighting Techniques: Learn about fire behavior, firefighting tools, and suppression strategies.
• Emergency Medical Response: Get certified in CPR and first aid while learning about basic emergency medical procedures.
• Rescue Operations: Understand the basics of search and rescue, vehicle extrication, and technical rescue scenarios.
• Fire Safety Education: Help promote fire safety awareness in the community by participating in public outreach programs.

Requirements for Joining

To become a Fire Rescue Junior Firefighter, you must:

• Be between the ages of 14-18
• Maintain a minimum of a "C" average
• Demonstrate a strong interest in the fire service
• Obtain parental consent if under 18
• Complete an application and participate in a minimum number of provided training opportunities based on DCFR Jr. Firefighter SOG’s

Commitment and Meetings

Junior Firefighters are expected to attend regular meetings, which are typically held once every two weeks. During these sessions, you'll engage in training exercises, drills, and educational workshops. Additionally, you may have opportunities to participate in ride-alongs with experienced firefighters and emergency responders.

How to Apply

Interested in joining the Dorchester County Fire Rescue Junior Firefighter Program?  Completed applications can be submitted to the Dorchester County Fire Rescue Headquarters (101 Ridge St., St. George) or emailed to Jford@dorchestercountysc.gov. For more information, please call (843) 832-0214.

Application Forms:

Junior Firefighter Physical Form 

Application and Parental Consent Form

Liability Release Form