Thank you for your interest in the Cowarts Volunteer Fire Department. Your membership into the department depends on you meeting the requirements for membership and openings within the department. The Cowarts Volunteer Fire Department is an Equal Opportunity Organization. We do not discriminate on basis of race, color, religion, national origin, age, gender, disability, or any other status protected by law or regulation.
The Cowarts Volunteer Fire Department was formally organized in 1978. A Fire Chief, Assistant Fire Chief, Training Captain, and Equipment Captain head the department. The fire department is a part of The Town of Cowarts and not a separate incorporated entity. The Fire Chief is appointed by the Mayor and Council and serves at their discretion. The Assistant Chief and two Captains are appointed by the Chief and approved by the membership. The Fire Chief has the ability to appoint other such Officers for the department as he sees a need for such a position. The fire department trains every second Tuesday of the month at the Wiregrass Training Center at 18:30 hrs. and every third Monday of the month at 18:00 hrs. at our fire station.. Other training meetings and work details may be conducted at other times as required for the department. The department, at the present time, has two front line Class A pumpers and a brush truck and responds to approximately 150 calls a year that includes structural fires, vehicle fires, grass and woods fires, EMS, and motor vehicle crashes.
If accepted into the department, you are expected to attend training meetings, answer calls, and participate in work details. Being a firefighter is a very dangerous profession. It also involves a lot of hard work. Extinguishing a fire is probably only about 5% of the job. Training and preparing the equipment to answer the call and clean up after the call, has to be done, and is the largest part of the job. Washing and testing fire hose, maintaining and testing fire hydrants, washing and pump testing the fire trucks, and cleaning the fire station, are all part of being in the fire department.
Being a firefighter is usually a thankless job. There will be times when you’re called away from a hot meal or called out from a warm bed in the middle of a cold night. You will spend time away from your family. It’s important you discuss your decision to join the fire department with your family, so they will be a part of your decision to join the department and they will understand the dangers and time away from home that being a member will involve.
APPLICATION PROCESS
Submit an application.
Application is reviewed and investigated.
Fire Committee discusses application:
a. If applicant receives a favorable review from the Fire Committee, the applicant is asked to attend the next regular monthly meeting. At this meeting, the applicant is only a prospective member and is introduced to the department.
b. If the applicant receives a non-favorable review from the Fire Committee, he or she is notified by mail of such decision and reason.
If 3a above applies, the members of the department will vote on the applicant with a recommendation from the Fire Committee at the next
regular monthly meeting after the applicant attends.
Applicant is notified of his or her membership.
The process from the time an application is submitted until he or she is voted in, takes about two months. This is dependant on how much
time there is between the time the application is received by the Chief and the next regular monthly meeting. If the application is received just before or just after a regular monthly meeting, it could take three months.
APPLICANT REQUIREMENTS
Have a valid Alabama driver’s license with an acceptable driving record.
Be at least 18 years of age.
Live in Cowarts City limits or Cowarts response area or work in this area and be able to respond to calls.
Fill out an application completely and be recommended by the Fire Committee and then a favorable vote by the membership.
APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS
Please fill-out application in ink.
Please PRINT OR TYPE your answers, except for the signatures required on the last page of this application. Incomplete or illegible
applications will not be processed.
Use blank paper if you do not have enough space on this application.
Applications without signatures on the last page will not be accepted.
Print your name at the top of pages 3 and 4 indicated by “APPLICANT NAME”.
6. Place N/A in any blank that’s not applicable.