A Prospect's Guide to Joining North Syracuse Fire

From the Chiefs

Dear Neighbor,

The Chiefs of the North Syracuse Fire Department are committed to providing the most effective and efficient fire, rescue and emergency medical service to our community.

Volunteering with our department brings personal rewards and satisfaction, builds self-confidence, and gives you a tremendous sense of accomplishment and pride in a job well done. It also provides your community with a valuable service that has the potential to touch us all.

However, membership in our fire company requires a serious commitment, and your decision to join should not be made hastily. This guide gives you the information you need to make the decision that is right for you — and for us.

Once you understand what's involved in being a North Syracuse volunteer, we hope you're able to make the commitment we need. The service our volunteers provide is truly valuable to the residents, businesses and visitors of our community.

Thank you for considering membership. Please don't hesitate to contact us with any questions.

Sincerely,

The NSFD Chiefs' Office

Why Volunteer?

Have you ever:

• Heard a siren or seen a fire engine and wondered what was happening?
• Come upon a motor vehicle accident and wished you could help?
• Been there when someone was stricken with sudden illness and wanted to assist?
• Looked for new friendships, challenges and rewards?
• Wanted to become more involved in your community?
• Looked for a way to supplement your retirement?

The fire and rescue service is one of the most diverse and challenging vocations there is, and that diversity is what draws most people to our ranks.

Different people volunteer for different reasons. Some enjoy the excitement of emergency work. Many like the feeling of helping people in their time of need, and some feel it's their obligation to serve. Others simply want to belong to the team.

Whatever motivates you, you'll be at your best when others are facing the worst life has to offer.

Imagine preparing for situations that range from structure fires to childbirth, and from hazardous chemical spills to heart attacks — at any hour, seven days a week, in any weather, often under stressful and emotional circumstances. Those same challenges are what make the work so rewarding: the accomplishment of controlling a building fire, the joy of a child being born, compassion for accident victims, and the fulfillment of teaching fire safety.

Volunteering in emergency services is one of the most important decisions you can make. We hope you give it the time and serious consideration it deserves — and decide to join our ranks.

About the Department

Our volunteers are your neighbors, your friends and maybe even your relatives — people with families, jobs and active lifestyles who still find time to give back. The department offers a friendly environment where you can discover your capabilities and make the most of the time you give.

Established in 1913, the North Syracuse Fire Department provides firefighting, vehicle extrication, specialized rescue, fire police, fire prevention education and emergency medical services to the Village of North Syracuse and parts of the Towns of Cicero and Clay. We're unpaid, but we're professionals, and we provide our services 24 hours a day, every day.

Supported by a very active Ladies Auxiliary, our membership is made up of approximately 50 active firefighters and EMS personnel, along with typically 10 to 15 Fire Explorers.

Our Stations

Station 1 is our main station. Station 2 is primarily used for storage and our Bunk-in program.

Our Apparatus

How We're Organized

The Chief oversees the department's chain of command, which provides clear direction, lines of communication and accountability for everyone in it. Each member reports to only one supervisor:

1. Firefighter
2. Lieutenant
3. Captain
4. Assistant Chief
5. Fire Chief

On an incident scene, the chain of command defines areas of responsibility and accountability for the personal safety of everyone working within the incident command system.

Teamwork is the foundation of our success — during an emergency and back at the station. Before you can become a good leader, you need to learn to be a good follower. Knowing how you fit into the chain of command will be one of the most important lessons you learn. Know your position and play it well.

Members also serve as safety officer, fire wardens, public information officer and recruiters, and lead areas including personnel, administration, finance, fire prevention, operations, training and maintenance.

Current organizational chart /images/membership-guide/org-chart.webp

How We Respond

Unlike a career fire department, we have no scheduled duty shifts. To fit busy lives, our volunteers are on call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and respond when they're available and in our district.

The department is dispatched through the Onondaga County 911 center, which alerts our members the moment a call comes in.

Once alerted, volunteers respond to one of our two stations, staff the right apparatus and head to the scene. Only chief officers respond directly to the scene. Fire police members also go directly to the scene to manage the flow of traffic around the incident.

What We Stand For

Our Mission

To provide the highest level of fire protection, fire prevention, rescue and emergency medical services affordable to the residents and businesses we serve.

Our Vision

• Provide an exceptional level of emergency care and fire protection at the most affordable cost
• Be a community-oriented service provider while keeping focus on our core objectives
• Treat the people we serve with the consideration and compassion they deserve in their time of need
• Be good neighbors to the Village of North Syracuse community
• Partner with businesses, local government and public organizations on innovative life-safety and risk-reduction programs
• Encourage, educate, develop and promote our youth as our community's most valuable resource
• Treat fellow members with respect, admiration and compassion for the challenges they face in volunteering
• Appreciate members' dedication, recognize their contributions and reward their achievements
• Conduct ourselves in a professional manner deserving of our community's pride
• Be fair and honest in our dealings with local government and outside agencies
• Be recognized as leaders in our industry and our community
• Continually review our operations and service, recognize our limitations, and make effective change when needed

What We Expect

No previous experience or training is required, but you need more than a desire to help people. You also need courage, dedication, assertiveness and a willingness to learn new skills and face new challenges. Our service calls on members to perform hot, sweaty, dirty, strenuous work, often in uncertain and hazardous environments.

Our volunteers need to be team players who respect each other's roles and contributions. You need to be able to work on call and handle occasional interruptions to your life — dropping what you're doing at the sound of the bell to respond to the emergency needs of your fellow citizens.

We provide the training, equipment and support you need. In return, there are certain requirements we expect you to meet.

To Apply

• Be at least 18 years of age
• Be a high school graduate or have a GED
• Be physically, intellectually and emotionally capable of performing your duties
• Live or work full time within the fire protection district
• Gain the approval of the fire department and the village board

As an Active Member

• Respond to 10% of all emergency alarms each quarter
• Attend two monthly meetings each quarter

Your First Year

Upon Acceptance

• Complete our new-recruit orientation program before responding to emergency incidents. You'll also receive a copy of our current organizational chart.
• Pass an OSHA physical examination by the fire department doctor, paid for by the department.
• Serve a one-year probationary period. Your probationary activities are reviewed within thirty days after one year of active service, and you'll be recommended for continued service or termination at that time.
• Coming off probation means meeting the requirements above plus the probationary requirements of your membership classification.
• Not completing the minimum requirements can result in termination of membership.

Training

Drills are held every Tuesday, but during probation you may also need to make time for classes on other days and on weekends. Firefighter members complete the New York State Firefighter I course within their first year. After that, training continues at the local, county and state levels, and members can attend regional and national seminars and conferences — all at no cost.

The Firemen's Association

When you're sworn in, you become a member of both the North Syracuse Fire Department and the North Syracuse Volunteer Firemen's Association. The Association supports the department's members and organizes its social side, including the annual installation dinner each April, which recognizes the year's accomplishments and celebrates newly elected officers.

The Application Process

Here's what happens from the day you apply to the day you're sworn in.

1. You complete and return the application
   • Include a copy of your New York State driver's license.
   • Include a signed records release form.
   • List all required references with their exact names, addresses and telephone numbers.
   • Include copies of any training certificates and EMT and/or CPR cards.
2. We receive your application
   • Our recruitment officer begins processing it.
   • The process can take four to six weeks, and we'll do our best to keep you informed along the way.
3. We contact your references
   • We send each reference a form or call them.
   • Slow replies can delay your application, so let your references know to respond promptly.
4. We request a background check
   • We request background checks from the Onondaga County Sheriff's Office and the Village of North Syracuse Police.
   • New York State law requires us to check for any arson convictions.
   • We must have a copy of your New York State ID and a signed records release to do this.
5. You observe our Tuesday drills for three weeks
   • Drills are held every Tuesday: mornings from 9 a.m. to noon and evenings from 7 to 10 p.m.
   • It's your chance to see what we do, meet our members and ask questions.
6. You get the department physical
   • The physical lets you and us know the state of your health.
   • We pay for it and help you set up an appointment with the fire department doctor.
7. You're sworn in and receive your gear
   • You're sworn in as a member of the North Syracuse Fire Department and the North Syracuse Volunteer Firemen's Association.
   • You're issued a pager, blue light card, key and turnout gear.

Next Steps

Ways to serve, member benefits and the online application are on our Membership page at northsyracusefire.com/membership:

• Ways to serve — firefighter, EMS, fire police and support roles
• Benefits — free training, LOSAP, life insurance and more
• Apply online

To get an application, or with any questions about this guide or the application process, call (315) 458-1920 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

The current version of this guide is always available at northsyracusefire.com/membership/prospects-guide. Printed copies may be out of date.