The District often receives numerous applications from inside the city limits. If the needs are greater in other county locations, such as Harrisburg, Rocheport, Hallsville or Centralia, applicants from those areas will receive higher priority. Once an offer is made to become a volunteer firefighter, the real work begins. Over the course of approximately nine weeks, in addition to the obligatory lecture class, recruits must complete a series of demanding practical training exercises. The ratio of coach to recruit firefighter is one to three.
Recruits learn that their safety and survival depend upon everyone in their crew.
Upon completion of the recruit firefighter training program, volunteer firefighters are certified at the Firefighter Level One for the State of Missouri. The training culminates in a graduation and swearing in ceremony at which the new firefighters receive the red helmet signifying they have now joined the honorable ranks of volunteer firefighters. Once assigned to a fire station, the training program continues throughout the firefighter s volunteer service. Kenneth Hines is the Assistant Fire Chief for the Boone County Fire Protection District.