In a word – everything. Few people realize exactly what it does take to be a firefighter, a description far too long to fit inside this website. Wash away the exterior - the physical endurance, strength, and tolerance for pain, and what you’ll find is the inner drive of every firefighter. Heart, and lots of it.
1. Firefighters are perhaps the most well read of all public servants. A firefighter’s training goes well beyond the initial recruit schooling. Firefighters are required by Local, State, and Federal regulations to acquire ongoing continuing education in every aspect of their service on a yearly basis. On top of this, many firefighters busy themselves constantly with studying for promotional exams and acquiring specialty training in such areas as Hazardous Materials, Instructor Certification, Special Rescue, and many other fields. In fact, every year, Lillington Fire Department averages 120 hours of fire training per firefighter. According to national statistics, this was 3.5 times more than the national average.
2. Not every firefighter is paid. Many fire departments protect rural or other small districts that cannot afford to pay a full time staff. In fact, 80% of the continental United States is protected by a force of volunteer firefighters.
3. Firefighters in small departments risk just as much as the firefighters of FDNY and other large cities. Every year, in North Carolina, firefighters lose their lives in the line of duty. Most of these brave individuals were from small departments that “no one has ever heard of”.
Different Fire Departments provide different services, the most basic being, of course, fire protection. Lillington Fire Department provides an array of services to the citizens and visitors of Lillington, a few of which are:
- Fire Protection
- Advanced Life Support
- Vehicle Extrication
- Special Rescue Operations
- Hazardous Materials
- Public Fire Education
- Community Charity Events
- Child safety seat installation / inspection
Basic requirements to become a firefighter with the Lillington Fire Department are as follows:
Volunteer Staff
- Must be at least 18 years of age at date of application. (16 years of age for Junior Firefighter program)
- Must possess valid NC driver’s license.(Class C or above)
- Must provide copy of current criminal history background check and driving record.
- Must live within city limits or no more than 4 miles from Headquarters Fire Station.
Paid Staff
- Valid NC Driver’s License. (Class B or above)
- Criminal History and driving records.
- When positions are available, application must be made with personnel office at Lillington Town Hall 106 W Front Street.
- North Carolina Firefighter II and Hazmat OPS certified
- North Carolina Medical Responder or Higher
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