Below are the various classifications of membership you have the opportunity to explore. 

To join WRFD, you must be at least 18 years of age and have a high school or GED diploma.  An application must be filled out and then submitted to the Membership Committee.  Once you fill out the application, you are encouraged to drop it off at the firehouse any Monday evenings around 6:45pm.  A physical will have to be done which is paid for by WRFD as well as a background check done by the Millcreek Township Police Department.  Once all these requirements are met and if the Membership Committee approves you, your application will be brought up for vote to the general membership.  If approved, you will be placed on a probationary status until you meet the following training requirements: 

• Completion of PA State Essentials of Firefighting (160 hour class)

• Completion of a PA DOH First Responder or EMT Class (60 hr or 120 hr class)

• Pennsylvania Certified HazMat Operations Class

Once you have completed these requirements, you will be brought up for vote by the general membership to be removed from probationary status and placed on active status.  If you would like more information, you are welcomed to visit the fire station Monday evenings at 6:30pm and ask to speak with the Fire Chiefs.

Download Senior Firefighter Application

The Junior Firefighter Program was created in 1998 for the purpose of recruiting future firefighters, as well as giving the youth (ages 14 - 18) of the community a place to learn new skills.  After being on hiatus from 2001-2004, the program was started up again in 2004.  The members of the Junior Firefighters have helped out the West Ridge Fire Department in various ways.  Several current firefighters today got their start as a WRFD Junior Firefighter.

Besides learning the skills of becoming a firefighters, Junior Firefighters at West Ridge also participate in various other activities and functions.  They participate in parades, fire prevention details, block parties, public relations details and training of the new Junior Firefighters.  One of the tasks that the Junior Firefighters do every week is the apparatus checklist.  This allows the Juniors to learn the layout of the apparatus, what the tools are and what they look like and their function.  This is done under the supervision of a Senior Firefighter.

Training is held on Monday evenings along with the West Ridge Fire Department.  Juniors are permitted to participate in all aspects the training as long as it does not put the Junior Firefighter into danger, violate PA Child Labor Laws or violate the PA Junior Emergency Service Compliance Manual.  Some of the training that Junior Firefighters have participated in are search and rescue, vehicle extrication, hose line advancement, accountability, ladders, fire science, and ventilation. 

Application

Rules & Regulations

PA Junior Firefighter Compliance Manual

If you would like more information about the Junior Firefighter Division, please fee free to stop by Station 46 on Monday evening at 6:30pm or email the Junior Firefighters.

If firefighting or EMS is not your thing, you may also join the Auxiliary.  The Auxiliary has been around for over 60 years.  The Auxiliary supports the Fire Department in several ways.  When the Fire Department is out on a call for several hours, the Auxiliary will bring food and drinks to the scene or have the food and drinks prepared when the firefighters return to the station.  For the past few years, they have sponsored a night out at an Erie Seawolves Baseball game.  Several times throughout the year, various fundraisers are held to raise funds to help support the Fire Department.  The Auxiliary also provides a meal once a month to the membership during the monthly business meeting.

If you wish to join the Auxiliary, click here to email the firehouse.