Welcome to a restart of the Mount Lemmon Fire District volunteer program. The goal of this program is to not only support our firefighters by creating volunteers that are a useful addition to extend our available resources to the Mt. Lemmon community and general public at large, but also create a rewarding experience for those who choose to support this program as both proficient and dependable volunteers. Here’s what you need to know so we can understand your level of potential interest.

The District has two on duty firefighters on each shift. The three Captains have expressed the following desires for the program if the volunteers are to be useful and used by them. They will be counting on you as trained individuals for support and to deliver on the skills they need depending on the nature of a call.

Depending upon your physical capabilities and desires, these could include any of the following depending upon your interest and level of fitness: a) traffic control at an incident, b) knowing the location of equipment and supplies in the ambulance and engine and retrieving them when requested, c) helping render medical assistance, d) packaging or moving a patient, e) patient assessment on trail, f) patrolling during times of fire restrictions, g) water handling, h) assisting with technical rope work and i) driving apparatus.

All volunteers will maintain proficiency in 2 person CPR. You will be trained in your assigned areas. We’re looking for individuals that are willing to commit time to training and maintaining proficiency in their area(s). Anticipate training in an area up to two times per year in person with additional on-line videos or meetings. You will be welcome to come to the station at any time to review or refresh your training and are encouraged to do so. You are also welcome to attend trainings outside of your selected area should you wish to learn more about these opportunities and the requirements. Remember, our firefighters are counting on you!

This program is not limited only to full time residents. You will be expected to keep your status up to date on an alert app on your phone whenever you are headed up or on the mountain and are available to respond to incidents.

As appropriate, you may be assigned a personal radio. It will be your responsibility to keep it charged and at hand. You will be trained in its use. When a call comes in through the app, it will be your primary source of information as to which skills are needed and where to report. It will be used for communication among volunteers on an incident.

As part of training we will discuss personal protective equipment required depending on your area of interest.

Regardless of whether you have been a volunteer in the past or not, everyone will be required to schedule an interview with the Volunteer Coordinators to discuss your desires and capabilities with regard to the skills mentioned above. For those of you who have volunteered in the past but are either incapable of or no longer interested in continuing as a volunteer, please contact the Volunteer Coordinators to bring any department radio equipment to them so that it may be redeployed. If you have reflective vests or other usable personal protective equipment that you no longer need, its return is also appreciated.

Following interviews and volunteer selection, each individual may be assigned a radio and will be added to the aforementioned alert phone app.

Some requirements for various skills.

Traffic Control: Must be able to walk at least 100 yards, handle traffic signs and radio

Medical Support/Patient Packaging: Must be able to lift and carry 15 lbs at least 100 yards, know the location of supplies and equipment on the ambulance and engine.

Medical Assistance: Basic first aid training is desirable and must be able to follow instructions from higher medical authority (staff EMTs, paramedics).

Patient Movement: Must be able to handle a gurney and patient, with assistance, on uneven ground.

Patient Assessment on Trail: Must be able to hike at least 1 mile on uneven trail carrying basic first aid and assessment equipment weighing no more than 15 lbs. Must have current medical training equivalent to basic first aid, CPR/AED or greater.

Water handling: Must understand and demonstrate how to hook up to and operate a hydrant. Must be able to carry, unroll and attach hose weighing no more than 45 lbs.

Patrolling: During Fire Restrictions (Severity): Must have good public interpersonal skills and able to drive or ride along in the District’s ATV when called upon.

Assisting with Technical Rope Work: Must understand how a simple system works and be able to assist in its operation. May be trained in setting up a simple system.

Driving Apparatus: Training, practice and signoff will require MLFD approval.

As you are aware, the fire station is in the process of being expanded and remodeled with an anticipated completion date of August 2025.

We anticipate relaunching the volunteer program in the Spring once the snow is gone. By then we would like to have completed interviews (in-person or on line) and be ready to institute in-person training, however enrollment is by no means limited to this one time. Inquiries are welcome at any time following the relaunch.

Please contact either of us to discuss your interest and to arrange for an interview.

Lou Crum: lou.crum44@gmail.com or John Perchorowicz: jperchorowicz@mlfdaz.org