Did you know? - The Pocantico Hills Fire Department is a 100% volunteer organization. There are no paid Firefighters in our Hamlet, nor throughout the entire Town of Mount Pleasant. If you live and work in Mount Pleasant, then you are in the service area of a volunteer fire department.

 

We are always looking for new members who are willing to serve our community. No prior experience is needed and all training will be provided by the Fire Company and Westchester County.  

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Any individual over the age of 16, and a resident of the fire and/or school district and in good health is welcome to complete an application form and join the company. Those under the age of 18 will initially enter as Junior Firefighters until they reach their 18th birthday.

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ACTIVE MEMBERSHIP:​ At all hours of the day and night, Members respond from home and work to alarms -  Coming to their neighbor's aid whether it be a house fire, a car accident, a carbon monoxide alarm, or a hiker rescue. We take great pride in serving our community when called upon, training for when the time comes and being there on somebody's worst day to lend a hand, and, above all, preserve life and property. If this sounds like something that interests you, please consider applying today.

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WHAT IS MY COMMITMENT?: We have other obligations too, we get it! Hilltop Engine Co. has one meeting, one house duty, and multiple drills in addition to alarms every month. The expectation is for you to try to attend most of these meetings and drills, and respond to alarms when available. There are also special work nights to keep all apparatus and equipment in working order.

Our volunteer system works because there are enough of us to cover any given emergency call. Even a minimum of one call a week will help immensely. Some working in the area respond to daytime alarms, while those who work in NYC come more on weekends and evenings.

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Individuals with a desire to serve their community as a volunteer firefighter should know that the choice comes with numerous benefits, some of which we explain here:

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BENEFITS:

• Training and all needed equipment and uniforms are provided at no cost to the Member. This includes county and state-level training classes at the Westchester County Fire Academy and other locations, with the opportunity for national-level certification and reciprocity.

• Tuition, student loan reimbursement, and scholarship opportunities courtesy of FASNY, Westchester County Govt, NY State, and numerous organizations.

• Property tax exemptions at the Town and County level.

• Length of Service Award Program (LOSAP) - pension-like benefit for volunteer FFs to help recruit & retain them. FFs receive tax-deferred income for their service, based on a point system for activities like responding to calls, training, and meetings.

• Special insurance policy.

• Recreation passes. 

• Gaining a close-knit extended family!

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JUNIOR FIREFIGHTER PROGRAM:

• For teens with an interest in becoming a volunteer firefighter, offers great community service hour, scholarship, and tuition reimbursement opportunities, as well as a chance to attend fire department training and events to further their interest. 

• Individuals aged 16 - 18 may join the company as Junior Firefighters. Jr. FFs may attend meetings, drills, respond to alarms during the daytime when not in school, and attend training classes at the Westchester County Fire Academy in Valhalla to obtain their Firefighter 1 certification.

• Individuals under the age of 18, regardless of possessing their interior-firefighting certification from the State, cannot respond to alarms in an interior firefighter role nor enter any structure until their 18th birthday.

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Teens aged 14 - 16 are also welcome to apply to the company as Junior Firefighters, however, their role is slightly more limited.

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• Jr. Firefighters under the age of 16 do not respond to alarms and cannot attend training classes at the Westchester County Fire Academy.

• Jr. Firefighters can still enjoy great community service hour, scholarship, and tuition reimbursement opportunities, as well as a chance to attend fire department training and events to further their interest. ​

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Click the "Volunteer" button to the right of this text to download a copy of the membership application to print and fill out.

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If interested, or you would like more information about us, please contact us at: pocanticohillsfd@gmail.com

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We look forward to hearing from you!

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MUTUAL-AID MEMBERSHIP: Members of other Fire Agencies within Westchester County who reside or work in/within close proximity to the Pocantico Hills Fire District are welcome to join the agency as Mutual-Aid Firefighters. M.A. Firefighters may respond to alarms and attend meetings and training when available. For those interested, you must get a letter of referral from your Fire Chief on Department letterhead addressed to:

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Pocantico Hills Fire Department

Attn: Chief Joe Mahood

531 Bedford Road

Tarrytown, NY 10591.

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Please reach out for additional information to pocanticohillsfd@gmail.com. The referral letter may also be emailed to this address.