West Redding has nearly 45. The firefighters spend their own time meeting state-mandated training and certification requirements, drilling, maintaining equipment, and responding to calls. There is a tax abatement program for the volunteers based on a point system, which determines the amount of tax abatement that would be applied. The best way is to attend a weekly meeting of the department you are interested in. Each meets at 7 Monday nights.
Applications are available at each fire station.
You must be 18 to join and go through training in order to become a volunteer. Residency in Redding is preferred but not required. Junior members need parental consent and undergo training. They can assist with department activities and respond to calls but are restricted from certain fire or accident actions such as entering a burning building or extricating a crash victim. Police headquarters is also there and all 911 calls come in to dispatchers who answer the switchboard 24 hours a day.