Fill Out an Online Application

CATEGORIES

The Silver Spring Fire Department has several categories of membership. The categories are listed below. Clicking on each one will give you a description of the category and how to apply.
Membership categories include:

Emergency Medical Services Member

Firefighting

Cadet Membership

Student Live-In

Lateral Transfers (in and out of Montgomery County, MD)

Administrative Member

 
Approved applications for membership are voted on at the monthly Departmental Membership Meeting. Those meetings are held on the first Monday of each month (unless it's a holiday) at Station 16. Applicants must be in attendance at the meeting unless previously excused by the Chairperson of the Membership Committee.

REQUIRED TRAINING

Upon acceptance into membership into the Firefighter/Rescuer, Emergency Medical Services, Cadet and Student Live-In categories new members are expected to complete required training classes. This required training includes both Department and County required classes. Based on membership category new members are required to complete the following:

EMT-Basic. This 131 hour course provides training and Maryland certification on treatment and aid to patients suffering from medical emergencies and injuries. This certification is the minimum required for personnel to ride as a provider on an ambulance or as an assistant on a paramedic unit. The course is typically taught in two classes per week: one weekday evening and a weekend day, lasting approximately 6 months.

Firefighter I/II (firefighter/rescuer, cadet, student live-in) These two-60-hour courses provide the required training and Maryland certification on how to respond to fire related emergencies while riding on fire engines and other related apparatus. The course is typically taught in two classes per week: one weekday evening and a weekend day, lasting approximately 6 months.

CPR (all categories) Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation training is provided to all members of the fire service. It will prepare you for handling patients who are not breathing or do not have a heartbeat, patients who are choking, and how to apply and operate an Automatic External Defibrillator (AED).

EEO and the Law (all categories) This is an online class

Cultural Diversity (All categories) This is an online class

Information Technology (Radios, Computer Aided Dispatch, etc.) (All categories) Some available online with follow-up testing at the IT Training facility. 

Hazardous Materials for First Responders (All categories) is a 12-hour class training providers in the initial actions they should take when responding on an incident involving hazardous materials. These incidents may be large in size or small in nature but require the same method of approach in the initial stages of the incident.

Personal Protective Equipment – PPE (All categories) This is taught at the fire station.

Blood Bourne/Airborne Pathogens (All categories) An on-line course.

Silver Spring Orientation. All new members are required to attend two (2) orientation sessions followed by participation in the Montgomery County Volunteer Fire and Rescue Association's Volunteer Based Orientation Course (VBOC).

Volunteer Based Orientation Course. All new members are required to attend the 12 week VBOC in order to complete various required County orientation classes such as hazardous materials, personal protective clothing, etc. and administrative functions such as face piece fit test, fingerprinting, etc.

STANDBY PROGRAM

Active riding members are required to participate in the Departments Standby Program. Upon joining the Department you will be assigned to a station to complete your orientation training. After your initial training is completed you are required to provide a minimum of 24 hours of standby duty time in 2 12-hour shifts per month. You are allowed the flexibility in choosing which 12-hour duty shifts you will participate. These duty shifts are typically done from 6:00 PM until 6:00 AM the next morning. Exceptions may be granted for those with work schedule conflicts. Personnel in all categories except Cadet and Associate must participate in the standby program. Live-in members have contractual
requirements related to standbys.

MEMBERSHIP BENEFITS

In addition to the pride you get from volunteering in your community and helping those in need when an emergency occurs there are many other benefits to membership with SSVFD. These benefits are a small token of appreciation for the time you contribute. They include supplied uniforms, meal reimbursement, college tuition reimbursement, free training, Maryland State income tax credit, worker’s compensation coverage, and access to exercise equipment. Details of these and other benefits will be covered in detail during your station visit for perspective members. If you would like to print this information for reviewing at home and the associated application please click here.

Emergency Medical Services

Members respond to vehicle crashes, sick calls, fires and other incidents where medical assistance might be needed. This service provides one of the most signficiant impacts to the Silver Spring community.

Firefighting

Fires threaten our community at all times. They may occur in single family homes, high rise buildings, garden apartments or  commercial establishments. Members are trained in all aspects of firefighting enabling them to mitigate the most ardous of incidents.

High School Cadets

Students in Montgomery County High Schools and non-public high schools may participate in the SSFD High School Cadet Program. Public high school students may participate in a program administered by the Public Service Training Academy or with the SSFD non-public high school cadets. Non-public high school students participate in a program developed by the SSFD. Students in both programs learn team skills and are trained as emergency medical technicians and/or firefighters. A cadet must be 16 years of age and have his/her parents/guardians approval to participate as a cadet member. When the student reaches 18 years of age he/she may apply for a regular membership with the SSFD.

 Student Live-In

Men and women enrolled in an institution of higher learning may participate in the SSFD College Student Live-In program. These individuals are normally housed at Station 16 and, for the most part, are enrolled in the fire science program at Montgomery College or the fire administration or fire protection engineering program at the University of Maryland. All live-in members must possess Firefighter II and EMT-B certification. Live-ins coming from out of state can obtain those certifications in a summer day-time class given at the Montgomery County Public Service Training Academy. Potential students who have completed Firefighter I and II classes outside of Montgomery County can get equivalency if the granting agency participates in the National Professional Qualifications Board certification process. Student Live-Ins must sign a contract that includes required in-station standbys.

  Lateral Transfers (in and out of Montgomery County)

Firefighters and officers who are currently members of other Montgomery County fire departments are invited to transfer their membership to SSFD. This transfer is completed by submitting a letter requesting the transfer, a completed SSFD application and a PSTA transcript. Providing the member is in good standing with his/her existing department transfer will be granted. Firefighters and officers from outside Montgomery County are also welcomed into the department through a lateral transfer. The same process will take place. If the perspective member’s department participates in the National Professional Qualifications Board certification process all courses the individual has successfully completed (including a Pro Board certification) will be accepted in Montgomery County.

 Administrative Membership

Citizens within the Silver Spring community who wish to assist the Department in a non-emergency response may do so as an Administrative Member. These individuals may assist in office work at headquarters, do articles for the web site, help in the uniform locker, etc.