Alachua County Fire Rescue’s Emergency Management Division is assembling a volunteer Fire Corps for the first time in its history.
The program, which began nationally in 2004, is accepting applications from volunteers to help out in nonemergency positions.
“This program would let us utilize resources that citizens have to help the office while also trying to teach the public – including students and kids – about fire, as an administrative and learning tool,” said Ebbin Spellman, Alachua County Emergency Management coordinator.
Basic jobs and tasks of volunteers include designing websites and providing administrative assistance.
Applicants must be 18 years or older and can apply online until Aug. 29.
The county commissioner approved the grant for the program after about four years. But Spellman said the only real cost involved would be conducting background checks.
“This is one more opportunity for citizens to help their community,” Spellman said.
Alexandria Whann, a 23-year-old UF Forest Resources and Conservation graduate student and UF Student Association for Fire Ecology member, said that she wouldn’t join the Fire Corps due to time constraints.
“A typical college kid doesn’t want to commit to something then back out,” Whann said.
Rebecca Creech, a 21-year-old UF Forest Resources and Conservation graduate student and UF Forestry Club member, said she wanted to volunteer in Alachua County in 2010, but they didn’t have a program like this.
“I would do as much as they would let me do,” Creech said. “I’d do up to whatever the limit is.”
[A version of this story ran on page 1 on 5/27/2014 under the headline "Alachua County Fire Rescue seeks volunteers"]
The Alachua County Fire Rescue Station, located at 930 SE Fifth St., is now LEED-certified. It is the county's only certified green building and the first station to be certified in Florida.
