Welcome to the Paradise Volunteer Firefighters.  Paradise Fire Department is a combination department – paid full-time firefighters and citizen volunteer firefighters.  The Paradise Volunteer Firefighters are divided up into three companies: Companies One, Two and Three that corresponds to the respective fire station in their area.  Each company consists of approximately 5-9 volunteers, led by a Volunteer Lieutenant for management and coordination.  They meet for two hours on the third and fourth Tuesday nights starting at 7:00 pm for training.  Much of the training is led by one of the paid fire personnel and includes all basic firefighting skills: first aid, ladders, breathing apparatus use, hose streams, vehicle extrication, etc.  This ongoing training is in addition to their eight week initial basic operations training course that includes specific basics and is concluded by a live fire training scenario at the Butte College Fire Academy Burn Building. 

Although the volunteer firefighters do not usually ride on the apparatus, they do occasionally spend the day or night at the station for a “sleeper shift, answering calls with the engine company.  Normally, the volunteer firefighters are dispatched by pager directly to fires from their home or work and respond in their private vehicle to assist the paid personnel as directed by the incident commander.  When one of our engines is dispatched to a large wildland fire on a strike team assignment, one of our volunteers will normally augment the staffing to gain experience and increase safety for the fire company.   

In addition to the three volunteer fire companies, a fourth company is in place for support functions.  These citizen volunteers do not fight fire; however, they are an integral part of all larger fire and storm related incidents.  Their duties include bringing drinks to the fire line, traffic control, protecting citizens from downed power lines, maintaining accountability worksheets, and other duties to assist the incident commander.  This company is also led by a Volunteer Lieutenant. 

Another function that the volunteer firefighters have is fund raising as the Paradise Volunteer Firefighters Inc., a non-profit organization (503c).  Funds raised by the volunteers help purchase needed equipment for the fire department.  Utility 2, a full size Ford Van and a set of Holmatro Extrication Tools are two examples of items purchased by this organization.  The Paradise Volunteer Firefighters Inc. accepts donations to help supplement and assist the Paradise Fire Department.  Donations may be sent to the Paradise Volunteer Firefighters Inc., 767 Birch Street, Paradise, CA 95969.