Become a Volunteer Today!
Why Join & Benefits
Making a difference in your community is its own reward, but joining our team can also give you access to some exciting benefits as well.
Explorers Program
The Brighton Fire Department Explorer Post 513 offers life experience, community service scholarship opportunities and more for boys and girls ages 14-18.
College Live-In/Bunker Program
Are you a firefighter and a student attending college in the Rochester area?
If so then the Brighton Fire Department has a Live-In/Bunker Program that you may be interested in.
Volunteer Open Recruitment Information Session
A brief introduction to the opportunities available at the Brighton Fire Department is offered the third Monday in January, March, June, and October.
Next Meeting June 12, 2023
At 7:00 pm
Brighton Fire Department – Station One
3100 East Avenue, Rochester, NY 14610
Traditional Service
Since 1925, Brighton Fire Department has provided the highest value fire-rescue service to our property and home owners by “combining” the benefits of 95 volunteer firefighters with the benefits of 30 career firefighters.
To continue providing that high level of service our community expects, our model depends upon residents and homeowners like you to get involved.
Two Ways to Volunteer
The Brighton Fire Department is proud to offer two different attendance models for its members. These models account for individuals wishing to contribute but residing out of the district or those with daily commitments that limit call response:
- Traditional Response: Firefighters residing within 1 mile of the Fire District respond directly to Fire/EMS calls from their home or workplace using their personal vehicle. In addition to completing mandatory training, and attending drills, department participation is assessed using a minimum call quota per 6-month marking period.
- Scheduled Duty Time/Squad Program: Firefighters participate in the Scheduled Duty Time model, by crewing in-service apparatus or squad vehicles. The typical commitment is 12-hours of on-shift time per week. This response model is required for new firefighters residing 1-mile and further from the district boundaries. The Scheduled Duty Time model is also available to firefighters living within the 1-mile boundary that prefer a defined/scheduled commitment. Department participation is assessed by meeting training requirements, and monthly on-shift hours.
A Rewarding Experience
Being a volunteer firefighter with the Brighton Fire Department is a truly rewarding experience. Not only are you dedicating your time to those in need, but the relationships you will build with the other members and families will last you a lifetime.
- Give back to the community in a most unique way
- Excitement your day job doesn’t offer
- Help neighbors and strangers alike in their time of need
- Sense of pride from being part of an elite team
- Organized social events for volunteers and their families
- Leadership and management opportunities
- Learn new skills and make close friends
- Be in a profession you never thought of “back then”
Volunteers Needed For:
Firefighting
Non-Firefighting On-Scene Support
Administrative Support
Community Education & Outreach
A Diverse Membership
Our volunteers are diverse in age, backgrounds, and occupations. Attorneys, Business-Owners, Stay-at-home parents, Accountants, Engineers, Retirees, Teachers, Sales Professionals and Pastors have all been part of our team. Men and women of all ages are encouraged to volunteer!
- District residency not required
- Flexible options for busy families and professionals
- Choice of firefighting and non-firefighting roles for new members ages 18-55+
The majority of our members join without any previous experience. Our training programs are designed to educate our new members as well as provide ongoing skill development to our existing members.
Truth in Advertising
At all of our calls — no matter how routine they may be to us — we are are making a difference in people’s lives. But, it wouldn’t be fair to let you think that all we do is fight big fires and rescue babies. Fortunately, there are not many times when we are called to incidents of that severity. The majority of what we do is much less intense. But no matter how “routine” the majority of our work may be to us — we know that it isn’t routine for those who have called us. We happen to think our brother, NY Volunteer Firefighter Mark Bezos, in his TED Talk, does a great job of telling the story of how even the small things we do make a big difference in the lives of neighbors and strangers alike in their time of need.
Apply Now
Fill out the form to start your process of becoming a volunteer with the Brighton Fire Department.