When you first join South Whidbey Fire/EMS, new volunteers will start either Fire or EMT academy.  Volunteers can live within the district (South Whidbey Island) or outside the district, but candidates from outside the district need to have certification either as a firefighter or as an EMT.  

The time commitment for training is significant. As you work through academy you will start to appreciate how your skills can benefit the community and your own sense of accomplishment! Both academy courses run approximately 4 months, 2 nights a week and every Saturday.   

Our expectation is that volunteers attend weekly drill held on Tuesday evenings, and “pull shifts” alongside our paid staff, on an engine or aid unit.  These shifts can be anywhere from 4 hours long to 24 hours long, and we require an average of 24 hours per month.  We have facilities at our Bayview and Freeland stations for these shifts, and they can be any time of day or night (sleeping quarters are available for night shifts).