Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

As with many occupations, there are risks in what we do. But we train to work safe, work in teams, and watch out for each other at all times. Despite what you may see on TV or in movies, firefighting has evolved into a science, with “Life Safety” being our number one priority. We maintain an outstanding safety record through many programs such as mandatory recurrent OSHA and HazMat training, practice drills, and additional firefighter education courses.

Yes we do. Like all volunteer fire departments, we need to increase our number of active firefighters. We are seeking men and women to train as today’s firefighters and become our next generation of line officers and chiefs.

Ghent Volunteer Fire Company answers an average of 120 calls each year.

Applicants must be a minimum age of 16 to join. Those under the age of 18 may become Junior Members with their parent or guardian’s written consent, and are restricted from operating any apparatus, using power equipment and interior firefighting. Junior Members are allowed to ride in the fire trucks and respond to fire calls so long as doing so does not interfere with school attendance or required school activities. We also limit Junior Member participation to 9:00pm on nights prior to a school day.

We have a monthly business meeting (for members only) on the second Monday night of each month, at 7:30pm. Attending every business meeting or practice drill is not mandatory but a firefighter must attend at least 20% of each to maintain an active status.

We hold our monthly drill on the fourth Monday night of each month (except on holidays). Our practice drills include actual apparatus deployment and operations, simulated emergency rescues and equipment operations. These drills help to keep us up to date on the available resources and techniques. Many of our drills are internal exercises but we also drill with our neighboring departments to ensure an organized effort when the need arises.

Yes. All active firefighters are required to have an annual OSHA physical. Physicals are scheduled and paid for by the company. Non-firefighting positions do not require the physical.

Members must live or work within the Ghent fire district.

No. Firefighters are always required to respond to our station. There, they “suit up” in their firefighting gear and ride in our trucks to the incident. We do not permit firefighters to store their gear away from the firehouse, or carry their gear/respond to calls in their personal vehicles.

Our primary district is the immediate Ghent area but we are also part of the county’s mutual aid “Incident Management System”, therefore we respond to assist our neighboring departments whenever requested. For these mutual aid calls, you will still be required to respond to our station to don your gear and be transported to the incident in our trucks.

New firefighters are required to successfully complete a Basic Exterior Firefighting Operation (BEFO) course. This course is offered by the county several times during the year. Each class session is three hours long and meets in the evenings twice per week, for twenty-five classes. There is no charge for the course. Once this course is satisfactorily completed, a firefighter may opt for additional training in subjects such as Interior Firefighting, Rescue Operations and many others. Firefighters are not required to take these additional classes but are encouraged to do so.

In addition to completing the Basic Exterior Firefighting Operation course, new members will be trained on the General Operating Guidelines and departmental procedures. There is also a required annual OSHA (one day) training course and Hazardous Materials First Respondents Refresher course. On the fourth Monday of each month, we also hold our monthly drills in the evening. These drills are essential for new members.

No. We do have positions that do not require a firefighter to be “interior qualified”. There are other essential operations such as exterior firefighter, fireground support, traffic control and scene security to mention a few. We also have positions that are non-firefighting. We are always looking for help with administrative and social-fund raising events, and equipment/grounds maintenance. There is much to be done to keep a fire department running!

We march in four parades each year. The four events include Ghent’s Memorial Day Parade, Chatham’s Memorial Day Parade, the Chatham Fair (Columbia County Fair) Parade and the Columbia County Volunteer Firefighters Convention Parade. As part of the proud tradition of the fire service, we encourage our members to participate in all of four. Ghent provides each active firefighting member with their parade uniform.

No, this is not a requirement to be a firefighter. Member who wish to drive the trucks are required to receive training and an endorsement by the Chief. If you choose to take on this responsibility, you must receive the training and endorsement for each truck, qualifying on one truck at a time.

Ghent Firefighters do not pay for any required equipment or training. We provide these items free of charge.

Ghent firefighters are covered by Worker's Compensation Insurance, disability, and life insurance.

Firefighters who are injured on a call are covered by Ghent Volunteer Fire Company No.1’s insurance for medical expenses. If a firefighter is out of work because of a department related injury, they are covered by the disability and the Worker's Compensation Insurance.

Our calls come in at all hours with no trend showing any certain time of day having more activity than others.

Although we expect our firefighters to respond to as many calls as possible, we do not require them to respond to every call. Members are required to respond to a minimum of 20% of fire calls, drills, and meetings to maintain an active firefighter status.

Any call may involve an actual fire of some type but we are also dispatched for auto accidents and extractions, fire alarm activations, downed power lines, assisting the medical first responders, and a variety of other hazard mitigations.

We will provide a (dedicated frequency) voice pager to every active firefighter.

All levels of membership and positions within Ghent Volunteer Fire Company are unpaid volunteers.