Membership Information
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We are a combination fire department with both career & volunteer personnel. Our department is in constant need of individuals who are willing to volunteer their time and efforts in service to their community. Let's be upfront about what we expect, we are not the weekly bowling league. Our training is intense due to the nature of our business, but our alarm responses are more than just fires. As stated before, we provide fire, rescue, hazmat and emergency medical services to our community. This requires a broad base of trained personnel in many support positions. Not everybody can or wants to be a firefighter, we understand that. If you think you are interested in becoming part of the crew, come buy our station and check us out. We can promise that you will be challenged by the training and rewarded by the fellowship. Our meetings are held on Thursday nights at 7:00 PM and typically last till 10:00 PM. The fire station address is 11905 Norwood Road, Raleigh NC 27613. Fill out a membership information request here.
When you walk through the front door you can walk up to any member and introduce yourself. Let the member know you are there to check us out. During the meeting you will be asked to stand up and introduce yourself. This is not done to embarrass you, but to put a name and a face together. You will be assigned to a Membership Committee member, this person will provide you with a tour of our facility and answer any questions you have. After answering all your questions you will be asked if you would like to join. If you answer yes, an application packet will be given to you. The packet will have all the information and requirements needed to get the process started. Please plan to stay the whole meeting to see how we train and meet some of the membership. You will be required to attend two more meetings and complete the application packet before you meet with members of the Membership Committee. Your meeting with this committee is a chance for you to ask any lingering questions you may have and too make sure you know the commitment you will be making. After a successful meeting with the committee your name will be submitted to the departments board of directors for membership approval. Once approved you will be a probationary member until you have completed some basic firefighter training. Welcome aboard! Types of Membership
Junior Member
Junior Firefighters are aged 16-18yo that want to be part of the fire service. They are closely supervised by senior members of the department and work next to those senior firefights in a very specific and controlled environment. This program is designed to expose interested youth to the fire service as a potential career.
The Junior firefighter is required to get permission of both his family and his school, He/she must maintain passing grades and is required to present his/her report card each quarter. During the school year the Junior firefighter is only permitted to be at the station after school until 10:00pm during the week and all day until 10pm on weekends. Junior firefighters are permitted to participate in closely supervised training evolutions that do not involve hazardous situations. Junior firefighters are also permitted to run emergency calls under the close supervision of senior personnel. This includes medical emergencies, car accidents, brush fires and structure fires. The Junior firefighter is NEVER permitted and will not be intentionally put in any hazardous situation. Ladies Auxiliary
The ladies auxiliary is an integral part of the department, made up of women in the community that want to support the efforts of the department in providing services to the citizens of the fire district. The Ladies auxiliary assist in fund raising, and providing on scene support for large scale incidents with water/food etc. The Durham Highway FD ladies Auxiliary are a very active and dedicated arm of the department.
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Probationary Member
The probationary firefighter is the entry level position for 18-over. This level of firefighter is required to train in the hazardous environment with senior firefighters and certified instructors. Being a probationary firefighter involves both book work and physical work. It is very demanding both physically and mentally. To be able to ride on emergency calls the probationary firefighter will be required to successfully complete the following instructor lead courses.
It is in the probationary phase of their training that the firefighter will be expected to work through the Durham Highway FD probationary training program, where department specific techniques and expectations are taught. In addition to this specific training, the Probationary firefighter will begin NC Dept of Insurance Firefighter 1&2 training taught at various NC Fire Dept's often through the community college system. There are no costs to the firefighter associated with this training, and the department will issue the appropriate firefighter equipment to the student for his use during this phase of his/her training. Interior Firefighter (Black Hat)
Interior firefighters are firefighters who have been able to successfully complete all the prerequisite training and has demonstrated his/her ability to be part of a team. Interior firefighting involves participating in often extremely hazardous environments and situations where you may be called upon to lay your life down for another. To get to this level of firefighting you could have spent in excess of a year as a probationary member learning both the "Art & Science" of fighting fire and often includes more than 200 hours of training.
In addition to the training, you will be expected to run "Duty Crew" of at least 48hrs a month. Duty crew is the ON SITE staffing of the department from the hours of 6pm-6am Mon- Fri, or 6am-6pm/6pm-6am on weekends. These shifts are split into 12 hr blocks. Here is where you payback the taxpayers for the training and equipment you are issued. EMT (Emergency Medical Technician)
The EMT must take a state approved training class that involves book work and physical training and lasts for 160 hours of training at a local community college. The state waives the tuition fees associated with this training IF you are a member of a NC recognized fire department. The student is required to pay of his/her text book. It is EXPECTED that all Durham Highway firefighters will become EMT's as part of their training.
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