A. It varies from week to week, but on average you'll put in seven or eight hours. Many volunteers enjoy putting in more time as their schedule permits.

A. It will cost you nothing. You will receive professional training from experienced personnel at the Nassau County Fire Service Academy and from the local fire department you join.

A. You will immediately be able to make a difference and your responsibilities will increase as you gain experience and training.

A. No. Your uniform, equipment - even your annual physical - will be provided for free through your fire department.

A. You must volunteer for the department or unit that serves the community in which you live. Not sure which one that is? Don't worry. When you complete our online application we will automatically route it to the appropriate service, based on the home address you provide.

A. The only general limitation for participating in any form of service is age. You must be at least 18 years old to volunteer as an adult. Otherwise, anyone who can meet the physical and mental demands of training and achieve certification may serve as a firefighter or emergency medical technician. Note that additional, specific considerations, such as area of residence, will also apply. To learn more about volunteering, click on Requirements or Helpful Links .

A. Yes, indeed. Over the years many women have served within the County's volunteer fire departments and emergency medical service agencies. They have a lot of company, too; it's estimated that there are between 35,000 and 40,000 female volunteer firefighters in departments across the United States. All firefighting jobs can be performed by a properly trained woman.

A. Click here to fill out the volunteer profile form, and we'll help put you in touch with your local fire or EMS Agency. Because Districts often overlap town lines, don't assume that the nearest station is necessarily your local agency - check with us.

A. Your decision to become a fire or emergency medical volunteer is something of which your family can be proud. It is more than just a personal commitment, however. The time involved for both training and service will certainly affect the other members of your family. Emergencies seldom occur at convenient times, so your family will need to understand and accept that plans may need to change at a moment's notice. In truth, no one can expect to be a successful volunteer without the full support of those whom they care for, and who care for them.

Yes, depending on your family situation, you should definitely include your spouse, children, siblings, and even parents in your considerations, and make sure that they understand the ways in which your decision is likely to affect your family life. To help you, the National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) has produced a booklet: Expect: A Guide for Family Members of Volunteer Firefighters

A. Please visit our Helpful Links page where we have compiled a list of organizations that may be of interest to you.

A. While a definite and continuing need for volunteer firefighters and EMS responders exists throughout Nassau County, we understand that these two opportunities may not be right for everyone. Should this be true in your case, consider contributing to your community's safety through one of the following Nassau County programs: the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) or the Auxiliary Police Department. You can learn more here

A. The National College Credit Recommendation Service (NCCRS) was established by the New York State Board of Regents in 1973 as part of their commitment to increasing access to higher education for adults. NCCRS evaluates formal courses sponsored by non-collegiate organizations throughout the United States and makes recommendations on their comparability to college-level courses.

Descriptions of courses that have been recommended for credit at the undergraduate or graduate level are published in CCR On-line (the on-line successor to the Program’s print Directory, College Credit Recommendations), which is used by colleges and universities nationwide as a guide in granting credit to individuals who have successfully completed the courses described in it. The fact that these courses have been favorably evaluated does not mean that you are automatically awarded credit upon completing it. The credit recommendation for this course is just that - a “recommendation.” Academic institutions are free to accept, reject, or modify it. You will not have received credit for this course until a college or university that you apply to awards you credit and puts it on a transcript. If credit is to be awarded, the course must be applicable in some way to your program of study at the college and must not duplicate a course that you have already taken.

How do you take the first step toward obtaining credit? If you are already enrolled in a college degree program, talk with your faculty advisor about receiving credit for this course. If you are not enrolled, you should apply for credit at the same time you formally apply for admission to a degree program. In either case, you will need to provide the college with official verification of successful course completion.

At your request, the Fire Service Academy will send a college an official record of your course work. You may have taken other courses here that are recommended for college credit. For more information contact: Deputy Chief Bozza at the NCFSA 516-572- 8600. If you encounter difficulties in obtaining credit for a course because the college is not familiar with NCCRS or because it has not established a policy on awarding credit for non-collegiate course work, get in touch with the organization representative indicated above or with the National College Credit Recommendation Service, Education Building Addition, Room 975, 89 Washington Avenue, Albany, New York 12234, Tel. 518-486-2070, Fax 518-486-1853, or e-mail nccrs@mail.nysed.gov. The Director of NCCRS will be happy to send a letter of introduction about the Program to college officials on your behalf.

Nassau County Community College
NCCC offers a Fire Science Program that leads to an Associate in Science Degree. Students develop a strong foundation in the liberal arts while gaining specific knowledge in fire science. With this combination of liberal arts and fire science education students are prepared for employment and to transfer to a four-year program. NCCC has transfer agreements with John Jay College and Empire State College to assist students in pursuit of baccalaureate degrees. NCCC generally recognizes NCCRS recommendations.

Suffolk County Community College
Suffolk County Community College offers certificate and Associate degree programs in Fire Science. SCCC generally recognizes NCCRS credit recommendations. In addition Firefighters who have appropriate training and experience may earn credit by taking and passing challenge examinations.

Empire State College
The Nassau County Fire Service Academy has established a working relationship with Empire State College. As such, Empire State College is familiar with our courses and has awarded Nassau County Firefighters with college credit based on individualized evaluations of their studies at the Fire Academy. In addition Empire State College generally recognizes NCCRS credit recommendations. Empire State students can develop a degree plan with concentrations in areas such as Fire Service Administration, Emergency Management and other area of business and community service, College evaluators are familiar the the NCFSA program and will assist students with individualized evaluations.

In addition to the colleges listed above, the following also accept NCCRS credit recommended classes:

Excelsior College and many online schools such as University of Phoenix. A complete list is available on the website http://www.nationalccrs.org.

A. Kevin Madigan @ k2mphotography.com