The fire and EMS service is one of the most diverse and challenging vocations today. It is this diversity that attracts most men and women to join our ranks.

Different people volunteer for different reasons. Action oriented people enjoy the excitement and adrenaline rush that emergency services has to offer. Some see the volunteer fire service as an alternative to ‘driving a desk by day’ – by allowing them to ‘drive a fire truck at night!’

Many like the feeling they get when they help people in their time of need, and some feel it is their obligation to serve the community. Yet others just want to belong to the team. Whatever motivates you to volunteer – everyone gains the self-satisfaction of being at their best when others are dealing with what is often the worst that life has to offer.

Imagine having to prepare yourself to cope with situations that range from structure fires to childbirth to hazardous chemical spills to heart attacks to almost any imaginable emergency in between. This diversity is coupled with the fact that these skills may be needed at any time of the day or night, seven days a week, in any kind of weather, and very often under potentially stressful and emotional circumstances. Yet these same factors contribute to our profession being so personally rewarding.

We realize that firefighting & EMS is not for everyone, but we believe that volunteering can be. There is plenty of work to be done behind the scenes – including running the business of the Eighth Ward Volunteer Fire Department.

Complete the form in the link below to begin your career with the Eighth Ward Volunteer Fire Department.

HOW DOES THE RESERVE PROGRAM DIFFER FROM THE VOLUNTEER PROGRAM?

Both of these programs are very similar with respects to training opportunities and serving the public. The Volunteer Program is for those individuals that live and reside in the Eighth Ward VFD coverage area. The Reserve Program is for those individuals that live and reside outside the Eighth Ward VFD coverage area. 

Our coverage area is in the southeastern section of Tangipahoa Parish and shares boundaries with Ponchatoula VFD and Hammond FD. We are bounded on the west by the Tangipahoa River and on the east by the Tangipahoa Parish / St. Tammany Parish line. Our southern boundary is the mouth of the Tangipahoa River and the northern boundary is approximately Chapapeela Road where it intersects Highway 445 north of Robert.

Reserve Program Request