Once you’re confirmed as a member, you’ll be assigned a Prince George’s County ID Number, and then will be able to schedule your initial training and are on your way to full participation. Depending on your type of membership, you’ll be provided additional documentation.
To begin participating in the department operationally, you’ll need to complete Volunteer Recruit School (VRS), two online Incident Command System classes and CPR. You may get ahead of the curve and take the online courses and CPR prior to full confirmation of membership.
You will also be assigned a duty shift and lead officer who will be your primary contact for day-to-day issues with the department. For more on base expectations beyond the basic training below, please click here. We also encourage you to being attending our monthly meeting, on the second Monday each month at 7:30 p.m. at the firehouse.
About Volunteer Recruit School
All new members, regardless of past training and experience, are required to attend a Volunteer Recruit School provided by Prince George’s County. VRS is core knowledge training that includes such topics as infection control, equal employment opportunity and sexual harassment, as well as a brief overview and history of the county fire department to give you a full picture of the Fire & EMS system.
VRS courses typically take place once a month at Bowie Station 43. If you become a member, one of the first steps will be to schedule taking this course. Your registration will be coordinated by the department’s Recruitment Administrator ).
For new members without prior fire service training, the following is required to attend VRS.
- Students must bring a copy of IS-100 and IS-700 certificate
- A copy of healthcare CPR (no Heartsaver), which can be scheduled monthly at Bowie Station 43 or other locations and times which will be provided to you
- A signed Form #4371, “Issuance of Personal Protective Equipment Request/Agreement”, which will need to be signed by you and the Chief or President of the HVFD
- Review a paper or electronic copy of the county’s VRS Manual, online at http://hvfd2016.wpengine.com/docs/vrs.student_manual.pdf
You will be provided with all relevant forms on acceptance of membership. You will not be permitted to take VRS without these materials.
In addition to the above requirements, for new members with prior fire service training, the following is required to attend VRS.
- Equivalency members must bring their full equivalency package
- A copy of Maryland, PRO Board or IFSAC Firefighter I (or Higher) Card
- Completed Form #2000, signed by trainer and HVFD Chief officer
- Completed Form #1815, signed by you
If student has EMT-B, a copy of your valid card along with MIEMSS additional affiliate form, reciprocal or National Registry approval form
The HVFD’s recruiter will provide you with date, time and location options for your Volunteer Recruit School experience.
Transfer Members
Members transferring from another department within Prince George’s County must obtain a Transfer form, signed by the Chief of the department transferring FROM. They must then complete the normal process of becoming a member of the Hyattsville VFD, including application, ride-along and interview.
Want to get an early start?
Prior to attending VRS or participating in any operational capacity, a member must take two courses in the FEMA Incident Command System (ICS) training module. These courses can be taken online at any time and both are required.
- IS-100 (Introduction to Incident Command System) at http://training.fema.gov/EMIWeb/IS/IS100b.asp
- IS-700 (NIMS An Introduction) at https://training.fema.gov/EMIWeb/IS/is700a.asp
You can also take the American Heart Association Healthcare Provider CPR Class, offered periodically at the HVFD or through the Bowie Volunteer Fire Department (http://bowiefire.org/custom.html?id=6060).
