Did you know that of the roughly 1.1 million firefighters in America, 69% of them are volunteer? There are 17 local government fire departments in Plumas County, and every single one of them needs volunteers. Most are operated fully by volunteers, and even the only fully career department, Peninsula FPD, would like to find some volunteers to supplement their paid staff, according to Chief Gary Pini.

See the video below from the National Volunteer Fire Council for an overview of being a volunteer firefighter, from the perspective of actual members. Click on the symbol in the lower right to the left of the word vimeo for full screen.

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​See the related video below from Chief Ronny Coleman, retired California State Fire Marshal, for an overview of a Volunteer FD fund-raising event in Plumas County. Click on the symbol in the lower right, to the left of the word vimeo for full screen.

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Firefighting: Providing hands-on fire suppression & rescue services in the 'hot zone.'

Becoming a volunteer firefighter starts with contacting your local fire department. Generally each department requires you to be physically fit and in good health, at least 18 years old, and a resident of their community or nearby within a certain response distance. It's usually required to be a high school graduate, and you can not have any prior felony convictions on your record. 

You'll need to agree to complete the regional Quincy Fire Academy, held each spring. There are also other certifications that are required by federal, state, or OSHA regulations. In addition each department requires good attendance at weekly training drills, usually held 3-4 times a month on a weeknight for 2-3 hours.

Support Services, On Scene:

Some of our departments have scene support roles that do not require hands-on firefighting or rescue. Instead, you may help with supporting the firefighters through refilling air bottles, providing rehab services, food, and other tasks as needed depending on each incident. Contact your local fire department.

Emergency Medical Services (EMS): helping people who are injured or ill and requiring medical care in the field.

All firefighters in California, volunteer or paid, are required to complete emergency medical aid training called "Emergency Medical Responder" (EMR) at a minimum, and many choose to complete a higher level of training called Emergency Medical Technician (EMT.)

The vast majority of emergency calls handled by fire departments today throughout America are EMS or EMS related, such as motor vehicle accidents.
​Some of our fire departments have support members who would like to provide EMS only, and not the firefighting role. This is not always an option, so please check with your local fire department.

Administrative, Other Support

Your local department may need help in other ways, such as through providing a variety of non-emergency support including fund raising, maintenance, running a web site or social media services, publishing a newsletter, etc. Contact your local fire department for more information.

See the listing below the sample firefighter profiles for your local Plumas County Fire Department contact information.

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Examples of Current Firefighters

To view more profiles of our local firefighters and support team members, visit the pages of each FD under the Fire Departments menu above.

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Interested in becoming a volunteer or learning more about how you can support your local fire department? Contact your nearest community FD below.

Beckwourth Fire Protection District
Chief Greg McCaffrey, (530) 832-1008; chiefmccaffrey@beckwourthfire.com
​Deputy Chief Don Bliss

Bucks Lake Volunteer Fire Department
Chief Jeff Iversen, BuckslakeFD@aol.com

Chester Fire Department
Chief Joe Waterman, (530) 258-3456; jwaterman@chesterfire.org

Crescent Mills Fire Protection District
Chief Joe Kemp, 530-284-7454 

Eastern Plumas Rural Fire Protection District (Delleker, Iron Horse, includes C Road)
Chief Bob Frank, (530) 832-5626; RAFrank1@msn.com

Graeagle Fire Protection District
Chief Ed Ward, (530) 836-1340; ed.ward@graeaglefire.org
Assistant Chief Jim Stockdale

Greenhorn Creek Volunteer Fire Department
Chief Tyson Rael, (530) 283-4588, @GreenhornFire

Hamilton Branch Fire Protection District (also Prattville)
Chief Gary Pini, (530) 596-3458; penfire@frontiernet.net

Indian Valley Fire Department (Greenville, Taylorsville, Genesee)
Chief Tony Balbiani, (530) 284-7224, tbalbiani@chesterfire.org

La Porte Fire Protection District
Chief Jim Gibson, (530) 990-2042; laportefire@yahoo.com

Long Valley Fire Department (Cromberg, Sloat)
Chief's position currently vacant, (530) 836-2550

Meadow Valley Fire Department
Chief Ron Heinbockel, (530) 283-2620; ron1942mv@gmail.com
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Peninsula Fire Protection District
Chief Gary Pini, 530-259-2306, penfire@frontiernet.net

Plumas Eureka Fire Department
Chief Tom Forster, 530-836-0532, tnforster@mac.com
Assistant Chief Bill Robinson

City of Portola Fire Department (also providing contract fire and EMS service to Gold Mountain CSD)
Contact Coordinator Leah Turner, rickandleah@sbcglobal.net

Quincy Fire Protection District
Chief Robbie Cassou, 530-283-0870; robbie.quincyfire@sbcglobal.net
Deputy Chief David Windle
Assistant Chief Frank Carey

Sierra Valley Volunteer Fire Department (Chilcoot, Vinton, surrounding areas)
Chief Vicki Anderson, (530) 993-1111, @SierraValleyFireDepartment

West Almanor Fire Department (also serves Prattville-Almanor)
Chief Randy Fluke, (530) 259-5112, westalmanorfd@citlink.net
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