What is the difference between a regular and volunteer fire department?

Answer 1

There are three types of fire response organizations that can be found:

* Volunteer * Paid * Combination The main difference is the way the stations are staffed. Paid departments maintain a crew of paid firefighters at all times, ensuring a proper crew and a quick response. Volunteer companies generally have more firefighters, however often times they will respond from their homes or jobs. Combination departments are those that have paid firefighters during certain hours, or they have a full paid stuff supplemented by volunteers.

In terms of training, a volunteer firefighter obtains the very same certifications as a paid firefighter. Paid firefighters respond from the station usually only during their shift, while volunteers, continuing the traditions established by Benjamin Franklin centuries ago, will respond any hour day or night, with no expectation of financial reward.