Chelan County Fire Protection District #3 was established to provide fire protection services to the rural community surrounding the City of Leavenworth. In 2012 the fire district, by a vote of the community, annexed Leavenworth deleting those fire protection borders.
Today Fire District #3 is a combination fire department responsible for protecting almost 30 square miles and over a billion dollars in assets. The department responds to over 500 emergencies a year including structure fires, wildland fires, rail emergencies, hazardous-materials, motor vehicle accidents, and river rescue to name a few.
Our Mission is to serve our community by protecting life, property, and the environment with safe, skilled, and dedicated professionals.
You will find that participation as a volunteer member of our organization will bring personal reward and satisfaction, raise self-esteem, and provide you with a tremendous sense of accomplishment and pride for a job well done. It will also provide your community with a valuable service that has the potential to touch us all. Our organization operates as a family, with honor and integrity being some of our most sacred principles. Each member is here for their brothers and sisters, and together we are here for our community.
Training is provided at no cost to you, and is geared toward helping to ease you into your position in the fire service. Click here to read about our training opportunities.
Programs for Volunteers
We have different types of volunteers within our organization with differing levels of commitment and responsibility. We are always accepting applications for our volunteer firefighting programs.
- Resident Firefighters: Resident firefighters are part of our most committed volunteers. They are assigned shifts alongside our career staff and volunteers, and help form the backbone of our organization. These are generally volunteers who are working towards a career in the fire service. Benefits of being a resident firefighter include:
- Extensive experience as a “First-out” Firefighter. Up to $3,000/year of educational benefits, Minimum of $500/month stipend (plus any additional shift coverage overtime. i.e. $125/day, $65/night)Weekly training and mentorship from Career Firefighters/Chief Officers, Opportunities for regional training, certifications, and a local Fire Science Degree program at WVCWorking on a “team oriented” fire department that values EVERY member – Career or Volunteer alike.
We are currently and continually accepting applications for our resident program! Please submit an application or contact Captain Madison Tibbetts for more information at Madison@chelanfd3.org. - Combat Firefighters: Combat volunteer firefighters can also work shifts alongside our residents and career staff and have the same training requirements as our resident firefighters. Our combat firefighters make up the bulk of our emergency response personnel. These volunteers are qualified to do interior firefighting and work in hazardous environments. Training opportunities include structural and wildland firefighting, hazardous materials, swiftwater and backcountry rescue, and emergency medical technician. Many of our combat firefighters have gone on to become full time career staff at both Chelan 3 and other departments all over Washington State.
- Non-Combat Firefighters: Non-Combat firefighters are also eligible, but not required to work shifts. They do not do interior firefighting or work in hazardous environments. They do have the ability to drive apparatus and run pumps on active emergency scenes, and the opportunity to perform as EMT’s on emergency medical calls.
- Support Services: Support volunteers assist in any number of ways; whether it is filling SCBA bottles, preparing meals for on-scene fire personnel, helping with public education events, or even working on computers. If you have a talent and some time we can use you!
Getting Started
Fill out the CCFD3 Volunteer Application Form.