When a fire, crash or medical emergency happens in DeBary, the people you see on scene are professional firefighters from the Orange City Fire Department, which serves our city by contract. Behind them stands a group of residents who have been showing up for DeBary since 1953: the DeBary Volunteer Fire Support Team. Whether you want to help raise money for equipment, hand a cold bottle of water to a firefighter coming off a hose line, or train to ride on an engine yourself, there is a path for you. This guide explains each option, the Florida certifications involved, and exactly how to apply.
Four ways to serve
| Role | What you do | Certifications needed |
|---|---|---|
| Association member | Fundraising for fire department equipment, community events, preparedness and fire safety education | None |
| Support member | Everything association members do, plus firefighter rehab and comfort for displaced residents on incident scenes | None required; CPR is a plus |
| Volunteer/reserve firefighter | Ride shift with full-time Orange City firefighters after a selection process run by the Fire Chief | Florida-certified firefighter and Florida EMT |
| Prepared resident | Learn CPR, join a CERT team, or train as an EMT to help your family and neighbors | Varies by program |
Association member: the backbone
Association members keep the organization running. According to our membership guidelines, they help raise money to buy equipment for the fire department and take part in preparedness, community involvement and fire safety education. In practice that means serving pancakes at Florence K. Little Hall, helping with our annual mailer, selling challenge coins, staffing booths at community events, and sharing fire prevention messages with neighbors.
This is a great fit if you have a busy schedule, are retired and want a meaningful way to give back, or simply want to get to know the people who look out for DeBary. Members meet on the second Wednesday of each month at 6:30 pm. Our fundraisers page shows the kinds of events members make possible.
Support member: on scene, behind the line
Support members do everything association members do, and they also assist firefighters and other EMS and rescue personnel on incident scenes. Their main job is rehab: making sure responders get water, sports drinks, snacks, ice, shade or air conditioning, and rest during long or hot incidents. They also provide immediate comfort to residents displaced by a fire, from a cool place to sit to a change of clothes.
Support members work from our rehab unit, Support 33, a donated former Clay County ambulance that went into service in early 2022. In Central Florida’s heat and humidity, rehab is not a luxury. Heat stress and overexertion are serious risks for firefighters, and a well-run rehab sector helps crews work safely. Learn more about what a support unit does.
Support members train on Wednesday drill nights at 7 pm at the association hall at 10 Colomba Road, DeBary’s original 1955 firehouse.
Volunteer and reserve firefighters
For those who want to work on the front line, Florida-certified firefighter/EMTs can go through a selection process administered by the Fire Chief. Reserve firefighters ride shift alongside full-time firefighters and commit to a set number of “on duty” hours on shift each month. Because fire service in DeBary is provided by the Orange City Fire Department, reserve applicants should expect the department’s own standards and selection steps to apply.
Florida’s volunteer firefighter certificate
Firefighter certification in Florida is governed by Chapter 633 of the Florida Statutes and administered by the Division of State Fire Marshal. Under s. 633.408, the division issues a Volunteer Firefighter Certificate of Completion to anyone who satisfactorily completes the state’s volunteer course. According to the State Fire Marshal’s volunteer firefighter program, the standard for a volunteer firefighter is completion of Part I of the State of Florida Minimum Standards Course. Florida’s administrative rules set Part I at 191 hours of training, covering general knowledge, fire department communications, fireground operations, preparedness and maintenance, EMS requirements and Florida-specific requirements, ending with written and performance exams.
The State Fire Marshal also offers a modular online pathway called “Grow as You Go,” in which prospective volunteers complete modules until they earn the Volunteer Firefighter Certificate of Completion. Questions about volunteer certification can go to the State Volunteer Fire Coordinator through the division’s volunteer firefighter page.
The full firefighter certificate
The career-level Firefighter Certificate of Compliance requires the complete Minimum Standards Course: Part I plus an additional 301 hours in Part II, for a total of 492 hours, with Part II completed at an approved fire training facility. Candidates must pass the state certification exam within 12 months of completing the course and meet the other qualifications in s. 633.412. Florida colleges and fire academies approved by the Bureau of Fire Standards and Training offer the course; in Central Florida, Valencia College is one provider of Firefighter Minimum Standards training.
Because DeBary’s reserve program asks for both firefighter and Florida EMT certifications, check with us before you enroll in a course so you choose the path that fits the role you want.
Becoming an EMT in Florida
Most fire service calls are medical, so EMT certification is valuable for reserve firefighters and anyone considering a career in emergency services. The Florida Department of Health lays out the steps for Florida-trained applicants:
- Complete an EMT course from a Florida Department of Health-approved training program.
- Apply to the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians (NREMT) and pass its exam within two years of finishing the program.
- Hold a qualifying CPR card, such as an American Heart Association BLS for Healthcare Providers card or an American Red Cross CPR for the Professional Rescuer card.
- Submit your application and fee to the Department of Health, including any required criminal history disclosures and court documents.
Applicants who already hold current NREMT certification from another state follow a separate out-of-state process. Check the Department of Health’s EMT licensing page for current fees and forms.
CPR: the skill everyone should have
You do not need to join anything to save a life. According to the American Heart Association, more than 350,000 out-of-hospital cardiac arrests occur in the United States each year, and about 73 percent of them happen at home. Performed immediately, CPR can double or triple a person’s chance of survival. In those critical minutes before firefighters arrive, the person most likely to help is a family member or neighbor.
CPR classes are widely offered through American Heart Association and American Red Cross training centers, hospitals and community organizations. If you already hold a CPR certification, include a copy with your DVFA application.
Community Emergency Response Teams (CERT)
CERT is a nationwide program supported by FEMA that teaches residents basic disaster preparedness and response skills, such as fire safety and using a fire extinguisher, light search and rescue, team organization and disaster medical operations. CERT volunteers can help their families and neighbors in the hours after a hurricane or other disaster, when professional responders may be stretched thin.
In Florida, CERT programs are coordinated with the help of Volunteer Florida, which lists a Volusia County CERT program among its Region 5 teams. Its online directory can connect you with the program manager. CERT training pairs well with association or support membership, especially during hurricane season.
How to apply to the DeBary Volunteer Fire Support Team
Because the Orange City Fire Department provides fire service to DeBary, every applicant submits two applications. Here is the process:
- Download both applications from our volunteer page: the DVFA application and the Orange City application.
- Attach a photocopy of the front of your driver license.
- Attach copies of any certifications. Include your CPR card if you have one. Reserve firefighter applicants must include their certifications, such as firefighter and Florida EMT.
- Submit your packet in one of three ways:
- By mail to PO Box 530853, DeBary, FL 32753-0853
- By email, scanned as a PDF, to [email protected]
- In person at 10 Colomba Road on a Wednesday drill night at 7 pm. Please do not drop applications off at the main firehouse.
- Review and background check. The DVFA committee reviews your application, and the City of Orange City conducts the background check.
- We will contact you after we receive your application.
Is volunteering right for you?
Our members include retirees, working parents, students and longtime residents who remember when DeBary’s fire department was all volunteer. Together they give about 2,000 volunteer hours a year, and more than 1,500 men and women have served since 1953. Before you apply, ask yourself:
- Can I attend some meetings, drill nights or events each month?
- Am I comfortable working outdoors in Florida heat, sometimes late at night?
- Do I enjoy working as part of a team and following direction on a scene?
- Am I willing to keep training and learning?
- Do I want to help my neighbors on what may be the worst day of their lives?
If you answered yes to most of these, you would fit right in. You will also be joining a tradition with deep roots; read our article on the history of the volunteer fire service to see where it all began.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need firefighting experience to volunteer with the DeBary Volunteer Fire Support Team?
No. Association members and support members do not need fire service certifications. They help with fundraising, community education and firefighter rehab on incident scenes. Reserve firefighters must be Florida-certified firefighter/EMTs.
What certification does a volunteer firefighter need in Florida?
Florida's Division of State Fire Marshal issues a Volunteer Firefighter Certificate of Completion under s. 633.408, Florida Statutes, based on Part I of the state Minimum Standards Course (191 hours). Career firefighters need the Firefighter Certificate of Compliance, which requires the full 492-hour Minimum Standards Course and a state exam. Both certificates expire after four years unless renewed.
How do I apply to the DeBary Volunteer Fire Support Team?
Complete both the DVFA application and the Orange City application, attach a photocopy of the front of your driver license and any certifications such as CPR, and mail, email or drop them off at 10 Colomba Road on a Wednesday drill night at 7 pm. The City of Orange City conducts the background check.
Why do I need to fill out an Orange City application to volunteer in DeBary?
Fire service in DeBary is provided by the Orange City Fire Department under contract with the City of DeBary, so Orange City handles the background check for volunteers who work alongside its firefighters.
How do I become an EMT in Florida?
Complete an EMT course from a Florida Department of Health-approved program, pass the National Registry (NREMT) exam within two years of finishing, hold a qualifying CPR card, and apply to the Department of Health for certification.
Sources and further reading
- Florida Division of State Fire Marshal: Florida volunteer firefighter information
- Florida Statutes s. 633.408: Firefighter and volunteer firefighter training and certification
- Florida Administrative Code 69A-37.055: Curriculum requirements for firefighter training
- Florida Department of Health: EMT and paramedic licensing
- American Heart Association: CPR facts and stats
- Volunteer Florida: Find a Florida CERT program
Ready to serve? Download the applications on our volunteer page and bring them to 10 Colomba Road on any Wednesday at 7 pm. We would be glad to meet you.
