Why Volunteer?

When a fire starts or a 911 call goes out in our district, it's neighbors who answer: the people who live here, raise families here, and choose to be ready when someone has an emergency we can help with.

Volunteering with the Capps-Batavia Fire Department puts you right at the heart of it. You'll train alongside a close crew, learn skills most people never get the chance to, and be there when your community needs you most. It's hands-on, it's challenging, and it's some of the most rewarding work you'll ever do.

No experience is necessary. We provide the training and the certifications that turn a willing volunteer into a capable firefighter and first responder. What you bring is the willingness to show up, learn, and look out for the people around you.

What you can gain

There's a place here for anyone ready to step up. Whether you can give a few hours a month or a lot more, whether you're brand new or bringing experience from somewhere else, you'll be trained, supported, and welcomed. Our experienced members will help you learn the ropes, and before long, you'll be the one others look to.

What We Do

At its heart, the work comes down to two things:

Firefighting

Structural, wildland, and vehicle fires across our district.

Emergency Medical Care

First response to accidents, medical emergencies, and people in crisis.

Those two are obvious. But there's so much more that we do, and many unseen tasks that make the main work possible:

On the Scene

  • Keep people safe at car-crash scenes
  • Guard against downed power lines
  • Provide food and rehab for crews during long fires

Trucks & Equipment

  • Drive, wash, and maintain the trucks
  • Repair trucks and our many small engines
  • Run the maintenance program and coordinate shop repairs
  • Upgrade trucks with new lighting, radios, and gear

Always Ready

  • Inspect trucks, equipment, and supplies for readiness
  • Test hoses
  • Inspect, clean, and inventory SCBA (air packs)
  • Inventory protective gear

Water & Prevention

  • Service about 100 fire hydrants (flush, test, paint)
  • Survey commercial buildings and pre-plan how we'd fight a fire there
  • Put up and take down burn-ban signs

Comms, Training & Records

  • Program, repair, and inventory radios and pagers
  • Take classes, online and in person
  • Maintain training and service records
  • Handle ID photography

Keeping It All Running

  • Serve on the board
  • Buy and distribute supplies
  • Order and distribute medical supplies
  • Clean the station
  • Take photos and post on social media

There's something here for almost everyone, and we'll work to find a role that fits you and that you'll find fulfilling. People of many ages, backgrounds, and skill levels have all found meaningful work here, and given tremendous service to our community.

Some members work as firefighters, some serve only as medical personnel, and some do both. Others don't respond to emergencies at all, but support our personnel on scene. And some never go to a scene, yet keep our trucks, equipment, supplies, and people ready to go at a moment's notice.

As an organization, the Capps-Batavia Fire Department is a low-drama, highly supportive team, proud of our legacy and our contribution to this community.

Requirements

How to Apply

Applications must be filled out at a training meeting. Monthly training meetings are held on the third Monday of each month at 7:00pm at the Capps Fire Station, 4391 Old Capps Rd, Harrison, AR 72601. Rarely, monthly training meetings are rescheduled.

If you're interested in attending to meet our personnel and complete an application, fill out the form below and choose the training meeting you plan to attend. We'll be expecting you, and we have your contact information in the rare case a meeting is rescheduled.

Prefer email? Reach us directly at [email protected].

What to Expect

From that first meeting through your training and probationary period and on to responding to calls independently, here's the path new volunteers follow:

  1. Attend a training meeting and complete an application.
  2. We run a background check. Once you're approved, you move forward.
  3. Begin your online training: ICS, TIMS, EVOC, and others.
  4. Get matched with a mentor.
  5. Get measured for your personal protective equipment (PPE).
  6. Receive approval to begin responding to calls.
  7. Meet with your mentor to go over responding to calls, call types, and the rules for your probationary period.
  8. Receive your radio, pager, and other equipment.
  9. Within your first year, complete the Introduction to Firefighting, Personal Protective Equipment, and Wildland Firefighting classes.
  10. Once your classes and probationary requirements are met, you're released from probation.
  11. Train hands-on as a driver and earn driving approval (for members 21 and older).