DO I QUALIFY?
In most cases, cadets start at 15 years of age and we have people joining our academy at 50+ years of age. If you are in good health and can pass a firefighter physical, you can join.
A good driving record with an Oregon Drivers License is vital to joining a department. If you have multiple citations, you might want to contact us directly before applying as each agency may have a different requirement.
In order to become a volunteer, you must be free of any felony convictions to join the Academy.
All applicants must pass a drug test and remain drug free. Random drug checks will occur.
If you have a disability, we want to encourage you to still apply.
Many departments require that you live or work in their fire district. There may be exceptions though. Contact your closest agency to find out.
The Santiam Academy is a 4 month academy that meets Wed eve and Saturdays and some Sundays. The training is both classroom and outside. You must be able to commit for the entire academy in order to participate.
Each agency may have a different drill night. Most drill nights last about 3 hours and are held on a weekly basis on a weekday evening.
In many cases, it can take up to a year before a volunteer can respond to calls. There are exceptions however based on overall activity and skill level.