Frequently Asked Questions

Must I live in Collegeville to join?
No! We have members that live in several neighboring municipalities.  While it may affect your response time, we welcome residents of any nearby community.

What kind of training is involved?
Make no mistake about it, firefighting involves a great deal of training.  You will undoubtedly spend more time training for emergencies than actually responding to them.  There are numerous training opportunities provided by Montgomery County that cater to various levels of experience.  Additionally, Collegeville Fire Company conducts its own training on Monday evenings and many times partners with neighboring Companies for other training opportunities. As a volunteer firefighter you will be encouraged to attend training as often as you can.  No firefighter is ever "done" training.

Is there a cost for the required Fire/Rescue training?
No! The Collegeville Fire Company pays for all outside (county and state hosted) training as well as providing in house, hands on training every Monday evening at no cost to the firefighter. All gear and equipment is also provided to you at no cost.

What is the time commitment to be a volunteer firefighter?
This depends entirely on you.  You would be with us voluntarily and we understand that you have a family, a job and other various responsibilities outside of the firehouse.  However, if you intend to commit yourself to being a firefighter, there will be times in which you must choose and budget your time accordingly.  You may find yourself sacrificing a night out with friends in exchange for a training class, or leaving in the middle of dinner to respond to a call, or waking up to a pager alerting you of an emergency at 2:00 am.  You will get back exactly what you put in to the fire service.  Also, keep in mind that by joining us, your family is also affected. They are the ones that have to accept and agree to you leaving during dinner, in the middle of the night, or missing a recital/little league game etc.

Are the Collegeville firefighters paid?
No! We are 100% volunteer.  We do what we do because we love it and expect no compensation in return.

Is attendance at training and meetings mandatory?
It is to your benefit and the community’s benefit if you attend as much training as possible, but most events are not mandatory. We do understand that you may have other obligations, however these training events will keep you informed and in practice. Certain important events may be mandatory but are typically communicated well in advance.
 
I can't leave my job to respond to a call - can I still join?
Volunteers respond when they are able. When one member may be committed at work or out of there area, we hope others will respond, and that is why it is important to have strength in numbers.
 
What is the process to join?
Start by filling out an application, found HERE.  Mail it, or drop it off at our station.  Your application will be reviewed by the membership of the Company and you will be contacted to come in for an interview.  It is at this interview where we will get to know you, find out your experience (if any), interests, reasons why you want to join and exactly what you want to do for us.  It is also another opportunity for you to meet us and ask us questions. If your application is approved you will be officially granted membership at our monthly meeting held on the second Monday of every month.

Benefits for Collegeville Fire Company Volunteers

Free training and equipment - Free uniforms and apparel - Access to Fire Company Fitness Center - CFC Social Events

I'd like to make a donation to the Collegeville Fire Company and my company does a gift matching program - what is your Employer/Tax ID Number?
Please contact us for this information.

Collegeville Snow Emergency Ordinance