Fire Rescue Recruitment
Volunteer Recruitment

Volunteer Recruitment

  • Have you ever thought about reducing the risk to your community?
  • Have you ever heard a siren or saw a fire engine or ambulance and wondered what was happening?
  • Have you ever witnessed an emergency incident and wished you could help?
  • Have you been there when someone was stricken with sudden illness and wanted to assist?
  • Are you looking for new lifelong friendships, challenges and rewards?
  • Do you want to become involved in your community?

Did You Know?

Did you know that approximately 70% of South Carolina’s fire service is made up volunteer firefighters? Horry County Fire Rescue is the largest fire rescue agency in the State of South Carolina. There are approximately 175 volunteer personnel with Horry County Fire Rescue. Our 41-station agency accepts applications for volunteer firefighters, emergency medical services volunteers, and volunteer driver operators.

Equivalency / Reciprocity

The South Carolina Fire Academy (SCFA) offers evaluation of previous certifications and training from other accredited state or training entities. It is the policy of the SCFA to offer reciprocity or equivalency for occupational level certifications issued by proper agencies. Horry County Fire Rescue utilizes the SCFA as the credentialing agency.

Compensation

Horry County Fire Rescue (HCFR) offers a voluntary compensation program for those individuals that become certified interior firefighters and/or driver operators. The Pay-Per-Call system works by compensating these certified individuals by offering $20.00 for every call they respond to with their station apparatus.

Benefits

Benefits provided by HCFR

  • Provident voluntary insurance
  • Uniforms
  • Turnout gear
  • Cost of South Carolina Fire Academy training
  • Annual physical
  • South Carolina Firefighters’ Association Life Insurance

Benefits provided by the South Carolina State Firefighters’ Association (SCSFA)

  • $1,600 natural death benefit
  • $3,200 accidental death benefit
  • $25,000 line of duty death benefit
  • $10,000 dependent child death benefit

Retirement System

  • Retirement System HCFR operates a supplemental retirement account for qualified volunteer and career personnel
  • Retirement funds are paid through one-percent funds

Volunteer Incentive Program (VIP)

  • $3,000 tax deduction on state income taxes
  • Performance based, utilizing a point system
  • Based on call volume, training, and meeting attendance
Compliance:
  • Annual Job Related Agility Test (JRAT)
  • Annual National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 1582 Physical
  • Annual Respiratory Fit Testing
Initial Online Training:
  • National Incident Management System (NIMS)
  • South Carolina Fire Academy (SCFA)
  • Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA)
Initial Recruit Academy Training:

International Fire Service Accreditation Congress (IFSAC)

  • SCFA Hazmat Awareness
  • CPR
  • Emergency Medical Responder
  • SCFA Hazmat Operations
  • IFSAC Firefighter 1
  • SCFA Wildland Firefighter
  • SCFA Vehicle Extrication
  • SCFA Rescuing the Rescuer
  • SCFA Rapid Intervention Team
  • NIMS ICS for the Fire Service

EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES VOLUNTEER

The following compliance and training requirements will be provided to the volunteer candidate:

Complaince
  • Annual Job Related Agility Test (JRAT)
  • Annual Department EMS Physical
  • Annual Respiratory Fit Testing
Initial Online Training
  • National Incident Management System (NIMS)
  • South Carolina Fire Academy (SCFA)
  • Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA)
Initial EMS Recruit Training:
  • CPR
  • SCFA Hazmat Awareness
  • National Registry EMT/Paramedic Training
  • Emergency Vehicle Driver Training (EVDT)
  • NIMS ICS for the Fire Service

VOLUNTEER DRIVER OPERATOR

(Previous certifications and experience required) The following compliance and training requirements will be provided to the volunteer candidate:

Compliance:
  • Annual Job Related Agility Test (JRAT)
  • Annual Department Driver Operator Physical
  • Annual Respiratory Fit Testing
Initial Online Training:
  • National Incident Management System (NIMS)
  • South Carolina Fire Academy (SCFA)
  • Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA)
Initial Driver Operator Recruit Training:
  • CPR
  • Emergency Medical Responder
  • SCFA Hazmat Awareness
  • SCFA Hazmat Ops
  • SCFA Emergency Vehicle Driver Training (EVDT)
  • SCFA Pumps I
  • SCFA Pumps II
  • NIMS ICS for the Fire Service