Membership Information Request

We are working to provide an online membership form if you are interested in joining. Until that time we be providing more information and Application Forms in PDF format, if you wish to download them.

The following information is from the Cheshire Fire Department, Department By-Laws has been posted as a guide to prospective applicants. Non pertinent information has been omitted for clarity.

1) Applicants for appointment as volunteer firefighter shall make written application on blanks furnished by the department.

2) The applications shall be forwarded to the department membership committee which shall:

3) After the application is read at the Department meeting it shall be placed on the company bulletin boards where it shall remain until the succeeding regular monthly meeting at which time, if it is properly processed in accordance with the Department By-Laws, it shall be voted upon, unless the application is withdrawn by the proposer.

a) When a vacancy is to be filled, the applicants shall be considered in chronological order of acceptance of their application.

b) If a two-thirds (2/3) majority vote is not reached the application shall be considered as rejected and the applicant dropped from the membership.

5) All applicants shall meet the requirements of the following subsections before being granted junior or recruit membership.

a) A legal resident of the operating area of the department; or, if not a resident of the Town of Cheshire, reside within a two (2) mile radius of Company 2.

b) At least sixteen (16) years of age for junior firefighter, or at least eighteen (18) years of age and completed high school or it’s equivalent for recruit firefighter

c) No person is eligible for appointment while away at school as a boarding student.

d) Physically able to perform the duties of a volunteer firefighter without qualifications to his/her physical fitness. A certificate from the department physician to this effect is required prior to taking the agility test.

f) Must pass an agility test approved by the Fire Officer’s Board before becoming a junior or recruit member. The agility test will be administered monthly by a chief officer.

Membership shall be divided into eleven (11) classes: Applicant, Junior, Recruit, Regular, Lifetime, Associate, Limited Service, Distinguished Service, Honor Roll, Honorary and Memorial.

Applicant membership shall be a person who has made official application to the Cheshire Fire Department and is being evaluated for membership.

1) Junior membership requires parental consent and an overall "C" average. A junior firefighter shall not respond to fires after 10:00 p.m. on school nights. He/she should respond to an appropriate firehouse and participate only as a passenger in a vehicle. He/she shall not get a blue light permit until he/she becomes a recruit member. He/she will be governed by the junior by-laws.

2) Junior members shall apply for recruit membership at the next respective department meeting upon completion of high school and age eighteen (18).

2) Each recruit member shall be eligible for regular membership at the sixth regular monthly meeting after being accepted as such, providing all of the requirements of Article III, Section 1, of the department by-laws have been met. After July 1, 1998, each recruit member shall be eligible for regular membership at the sixth regular monthly meeting after being accepted as such, providing the member is certified by the State of Connecticut as Firefighter I and Hazardous Materials First Responder Operational within a two (2) year period. At the end of this two (2) year period a recruit member who has not become certified as State of Connecticut Firefighter I and Hazardous Materials First Responder Operational shall forfeit his/her membership and return all equipment belonging to the department. When a vacancy is to be filled, the recruit members shall be considered in chronological order of original acceptance as recruit members. If a two-thirds (2/3) majority vote is not reached, he/she shall retain his/her recruit status.

Associate membership shall be given to persons who possess skills necessary for the day to day operations of the fire department (i.e., auto/diesel mechanics, electronic technicians, computer operators, etc.), but who do not want to be directly involved in the emergency aspect of the department, and Associate Members shall therefore not be issued blue light permits nor shall they be allowed to ride on fire apparatus. Individuals applying for this class shall fill out applications and be interviewed by the department membership committee, who shall recommend the appropriate action at the next department meeting. They shall not be assigned to a company but shall come under the direction of the chief or his/her designate.

AGILITY TEST INFORMATION SHEET

Station #1 - Section 2-3.1 - Endurance
The candidate, after successfully completing the medical examination and with written authorization of the examining physician, shall complete one of the following:

(a) Run 1 1/2 miles within 13 minutes.

Options - Applicant must submit a physician’s note stating the inability to perform the 1 1/2 mile run. Attach physicians note to this form. Check preceding box for choice.

(b) Walk 3 miles within 38 minutes

(d) Swim 500 yards within 8 minutes and 20 seconds

(e) Run in place - 75 steps per minute for 15 minutes

(f) Run on motorized horizontal treadmill at 10 miles per hour for 6 minutes

(g) Climb stairs consisting of 10 steps at 9 round trips per minute for 9 minutes

Station #2 - Section 2-3.2 - Bent-knee Sit-ups
The candidate shall perform 35 bent knee sit-ups within 2 minutes

Station #3 - Section 2-3.3

The candidate shall complete one of the following:

(a) Flexed arm hang - minimum 8 seconds - Palms away

(b) Pull-ups - minimum of 7- Palms away

Station #4 - Section 2-3.4

The candidate, given a beam secured to a level floor and measuring 20 feet (6m) long by 3 to 4 inches (76 to 102mm) wide, and given a length of fire hose weighing at least 20 pounds (9kg), shall walk the length of the beam, carrying the length of hose, without falling off, or stepping off the beam.

Station #5 - Section 2-3.5
The candidate, given a weight of 125 pounds (57kg), shall lift the weight from the floor and carry the weight 100 feet (30.5m) without stopping.

Station #6 - Section 2-3.6

The candidate, starting from an erect position with feet apart, the distance closely approximating shoulder width, shall move a 15 pound (7kg) weight in the following manner:

1: Bend over, grasp the weight with both hands while it is at a point on the floor between the feet, and

2: Lift the weight to waist level, then

3: Place the weight on the floor approximately 12 inches (305mm) outside the left foot, and

4: Without letting go, raise the weight to waist level, and

5: Touch it to the floor about 12 inches (305mm) outside the right foot.

The weight shall then be moved alternately in this fashion from left foot, to waist level, to right foot, to waist level, to left foot until it has been moved 7 times in each direction with the total horizontal distance of travel being at least 24 inches (610 mm) more than the space between the feet for each of the 14 moves. This shall be done in less than 35 seconds.

Until then, if you are interested in becoming a member of the Cheshire Fire Department or need additional information, please email us below so that the Membership Committee may contact you. You may also stop by any fire station on Monday nights between 7:00 PM and 9:00 PM.