Oregon Volunteer Firefighters Association

 Salem     Oregon

http://www.ovfa.org/     << visit website

Categories:  Disaster Relief, Medical, [ view all ]

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Oregon Volunteer Firefighters Association Charity Profile

The Oregon Volunteer Firefighters Association represents emergency medical technicians, (EMT) and firefighters across Oregon. Our membership is comprised of both volunteer and combination (paid firefighters working with volunteer responders) fire agencies. Some of these are special fire districts while others are city fire departments. Almost without exception they are training to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) level of FF I. We offer to our membership a number of benefits including the Relief Fund, scholarships, training & equipment grants, our annual firefighters conference and recruitment & retention information. The OVFA also tracks legislation that effects volunteer first responders through out Oregon and is also a member of the National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC).

The mission statement of the OVFA was reviewed to ensure it represents the purpose of the Association's existence. The board members' discussions concerning the mission statement revolved around clarity and accuracy. The new mission statement aligns with the corporate values of the current elected representatives the OVFA membership. This new, clear, and concise mission statement reflects the actual purpose of the Association and is the basis for getting others to support it in its endeavors. The mission statement should be published in all regular newsletters to the membership and should be the focus of Association energies and efforts.

New Mission Statement: Provide Support and Representation for Oregon's Volunteer Emergency Responders.

Oregon Volunteer Firefighters Association Volunteer Information

For some it is a way to give back to their communities, others it's a way to move into a paid job and for others it starts off as a way to meet friends and interact with a group of individuals who are motivated to come together to help one another. Its responding at all hours of the night and day to any number of emergencies. It's the challenge of remembering how to cut a car apart or gain access to a burning home. Its seeing your fellow humans at their worst and looking to you to help them through an event that forever will be in their memory. It is something you will never regret doing.

Almost without exception all of your training and equipment to become a firefighter are paid for by the agency. Some pay for, or reimburse the cost for emergency medical technician (EMT) training. The majority of fire departments in Oregon, train to the Firefighter I standard. This level of training says you are certified to enter a live burning structure without direct supervision. This is not to say you enter the building alone only that you do not need a supervisor (officer) with you. To reach this level takes about 80 hours usually over the course of six to twelve months. This is known as you're recruit training and includes, CPR, Haz Mat Awareness and Operations, Blood and Air Born pathogens, as well as all the sections of fire suppression that allow you respond within the guidelines of the Occupation Safety Health Association (OSHA) Department of Health, EMS and Trauma Section and the Department of Public Safety Standards and Training (DPSST) as they pertain to firefighting and the delivery of emergency medical services .

The hours you dedicate to this most noble profession is dependent on the number of calls your local agency responds to and their training structure. Many departments are involved in a number civic and fundraising activities while others are not. Some agencies respond to thousands of calls per year while others only 50. Large or small you are part of a much larger group, the OVFA.