Frequently Asked Questions

Who can be a volunteer firefighter or ECA?

If you have the desire to serve, you can be a volunteer firefighter or ECA. You don’t need any prior experience in the emergency services; you will receive the training you need when you join the department. We have specific requirements, such as a minimum age and background checks. If you want to help your community in ways few can, contact us and join the Lavon family!

What are the benefits of being a volunteer firefighter or ECA?

Volunteer first responders help their fellow citizens in times of need. Volunteers enjoy a sense of accomplishment, achievement, and pride in the work they do. In addition, volunteers get to learn new skills, make new friends, be a part of a team, give back to their community, and make a real difference.

What are the minimum requirements I need to meet to be a volunteer firefighter or EMR?

· Minimum age of 18 years old

· High School Diploma or GED

· Valid driver’s license and clean driving record

· Successful completion of a criminal background check

· Physically able to lift 50 lbs.

· Resident within Lavon or near our boundaries.

Are there ways I can help my local department without becoming a first responder?

Yes! Lavon VFD often utilizes community volunteers to assist with the non-emergency functions of the department. This frees up our firefighters and EMS personnel to focus on training and response activities, while enabling community members to provide needed support to help their local department run. Activities may include fundraising, administrative support, book-keeping, translation services, incident pre-planning, community outreach, fire prevention and life safety education, providing rehab at incident scenes, and much more.

Does the LVFD respond to NON-Emergency calls?

No. For many reasons including liability and resource limitations, we cannot respond to the following non-emergency situations.

· Lockouts (vehicle or home) where no person, animal or property is in immediate danger.

· Smoke detector battery changes (“chirping” smoke detectors.)

· Fire extinguisher changes or replacements

· Flooding or water removal (where no life hazard exists.)

Locksmiths and Home improvement professionals are your best resources for these types of situations.

***CALL 911 FOR ANY LIFE THREATENING EMERGENCY***

Does the LVFD host tours or birthday parties?

Yes! We love doing tours and showing off our beautiful station and Emergency Operations Center. Tours are done Monday through Thursday from 9am-3pm. Email us at lavonfire@lavonvfd.org for details.

We do host Birthday Parties for residents of Lavon. Please contact Tracy Filo at tracy.filo@lavonvfd.org for more information.

How many firefighters does the LVFD have?

Approximately 30.

How many paid fire fighters does the LVFD have?

Lavon currently has one paid Fire Chief. We also have stipend members on duty Monday through Friday 8:00 A.M. to 7:00 P.M.

Are you the volunteers certified?

Certified Firefighters—9 on staff!! Many of our volunteers are participating in training that will someday lead to full certification.

A current “snap shot” of our EMS roster reflects a variety of specializations:

Paramedics: 2

EMT’s: 8

EMRs: 1

We are also proud to boast that our team consists of: (2) Hazmat Tech’s and

(1) Swift Water Cert.

How does the city benefit from the department being completely volunteer?

The Fire Department saves the city $1.5 million annually.

Are the stations manned 24 hours a day?

No, because we are volunteers, we only respond to the station for training, during emergencies, or when responding to a call. In November 2018, a “stipend program” was started that utilizes existing volunteer firefighters to staff the station Monday through Friday from 8:00 A.M. to 7:00 P.M. This program allows us to provide a higher level of service by greatly reducing response times.