07/18/2026
We are always looking for volunteers! Send us a message or swing by one of the stations on Monday nights and see what we do!
Did You Know the Majority of Skagit County’s Firefighters Are Volunteers?
When the tones drop in many parts of Skagit County, the people responding are not paid, full time firefighters. They are your neighbors, your coworkers, and your friends who have chosen to give their time and training to protect the community they live in.
Skagit County is served by more than a dozen fire protection districts, and outside of the larger cities like Mount Vernon, Anacortes, and Burlington, most of these departments rely heavily or entirely on volunteers. Places like Concrete, Hamilton, Day Creek, Lake McMurray, Guemes Island, and Conway keep their communities safe almost entirely through volunteer crews who train together, respond together, and show up whenever they are needed, day or night.
Becoming a volunteer firefighter here typically starts with an application through the local district, followed by training in firefighting, emergency medical response, and often hazardous materials handling. Many departments offer their own academies or partner with regional training programs so volunteers can build real, certified skills while serving their own community. Some districts even offer resident programs, where volunteers live at the station in exchange for duty hours, creating a built-in crew ready to respond at a moment’s notice, such as Alger Fire District 14.
Based on figures from individual districts across the county, Skagit County is home to an estimated 300 to 400 volunteer firefighters, though the true number shifts as departments recruit and train new members throughout the year. Every one of them is someone who chose to say yes when their community needed them most.
If you have ever thought about serving your community in this way, your local fire district would love to hear from you 🚒
