The Burbank Fire Corps acknowledges that most of its members are lay-public volunteers; however, based on documented training and experience provided by the program, allied partnerships, or other approved curricula, not all volunteers will have the same skill sets when called upon during a disaster or other event. To best utilize the skills of all members efficiently, the Burbank Fire Corps has established various Membership Levels as outlined in the following subsections.
All members start out as a Volunteer Candidate. Volunteer Candidate members have submitted their application and completed the preliminary steps for the background check process (which includes completing the LiveScan portion) and are awaiting the results of the background check. During this time, we encourage Volunteer Candidates to begin working towards the completion of the training requirements for Volunteer I. Although a Volunteer Candidate successfully completes the background investigation proportion, the candidate cannot progress to Volunteer I without having first completed the training requirements for Volunteer I.
Volunteer Candidates are not official members of the program and are not afforded any of the benefits of being a member until the Volunteer Candidate successfully completes the background check, signs the Disaster Services Worker oath paperwork, and is issued a BFCP Identification Card. Volunteer Candidates may attend meetings and lecture-based training while awaiting being issued a BFCP Identification Card; however, they may not participate in hands-on physical training, work details, events, or incident response until they have been issued a BFCP Identification Card.
Volunteer I is the basic level volunteer within the program. In many cases, this is the core of the program, and many volunteers will embrace and remain at this level based on their availability or what they wish to perform in an emergency.
Required Training
✅ BFCP Policies & Procedures Manual
📖 Familiarize yourself with the manual.
📝 Sign an Acknowledgment Form confirming you have read, understood, and will abide by it.
✅ Disaster Service Workers Volunteer Oath
✍️ Complete the official DSW Volunteer Oath.
✅ FEMA Student ID (FEMASID)
🆔 Register for a FEMA Student Identification Number (FEMASID) at https://cdp.dhs.gov/femasid
✅ FEMA Independent Study Courses
🎓 Complete the following required FEMA courses:
📌 IS-100: Introduction to the Incident Command System (ICS-100)
📌 IS-700: Introduction to the National Incident Management System (NIMS)
✅ Cal OES CSTI Registration
🌐 Register for the California Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) CSTI Training: www.csti.org → Click the “Register” button.
✅ CSTI Courses
🎓 Complete the following required CSTI course:
📌 G606 – Standardized Emergency Management System (SEMS) Introduction
🌐 Login to www.csti.org, click “Browse Training”, and find the course.
Participation Requirements
To maintain Active status as a Level I volunteer within the Burbank Fire Corps (BFCP), members must complete a minimum of 2 hours of training or activity per calendar year,
Volunteer II members have taken additional formal training provided by the program or through allied partnerships and approved programs.
Required Training
✅ FEMA Independent Study Courses
🎓 IS-200 – Basic Incident Command System for Initial Response (ICS-200)
✅ BFCP Courses
🚗 Vehicle Operations & Drivers Training
📡 Basic 2-Way Radio Operations
⚠️ Event/Incident Scene Safety & Awareness
🛠️ Completion of Basic Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) Training
Participation Requirements
Volunteer Level II and higher members must complete a minimum of 25 hours per calendar year to maintain their skills, proficiency, and Level II status.
Volunteer Specialists have taken on a significant amount of training to become a specialist in one or more support tracks. To be a Volunteer Specialist, a volunteer must complete all of the requirements of at least one of the tracks below. A volunteer may have interest in more than one track, and may pursue completing multiple tracks. The specialist designation will not be granted until one full track is met.
Required Training for All Tracks
✅ FEMA Independent Study Courses
📑 IS-201 – Forms Used for the Development of the Incident Action Plan & Incident Management
📘 IS-230 – Fundamentals of Emergency Management
✅ BFCP Courses
📝 Documentation Training – Common ICS Forms
Required Training for each speciality
✅ FEMA Independent Study Courses
📑 IS-293 – Mission Assignment Overview
🏕 IS-315 – CERT & the Incident Command System (ICS)
🏚 IS-559 – Local Damage Assessment
🌍 IS-2901 – Introduction to Community Lifelines
✅ BFCP Courses
🏕 BFCP CERT Camp – Participate in at least 1 per year
✅ Licensing & Annual Requirements
📻 FCC Amateur Radio License (Technician Class or higher)
🎙 Serves as Net Control at least once per year
✅ BFCP Courses
📡 ACS Net Control
✨ Optional Courses
🛰 Portable Starlink Communications Systems Awareness & Operations
📡 Harrier Satellite Communications System Awareness & Operations
📶 Portable Cellular Bonding System Awareness & Operations
✅ BFCP Courses
💧 Incident Rehab & Hydration I – Basics & Awareness
🚑 Incident Rehab & Hydration II – Field Operations & Practical Exercise
🚚 Utility Truck I – Basic Awareness & Driver Training
✅ FEMA Independent Study Courses
🏢 IS-2200 – Basic Emergency Operations Center Functions
📑 IS-293 – Mission Assignment Overview
🌍 IS-2901 – Introduction to Community Lifelines
✅ CSTI Courses
🛠 G611M-OLC – EOC Section Overview: Management
⚙️ G611O-OLC – EOC Section Overview: Operations
📋 G611P-OLC – EOC Section Overview: Planning & Intelligence
📦 G611L-OLC – EOC Section Overview: Logistics
💰 G611F-OLC – EOC Section Overview: Finance & Administration
✅ BFCP Courses
🏛 EOC Support Roles & Responsibilities Awareness & Operations
✅ FEMA Independent Study Courses
📍 IS-26 – Guide to Points of Distribution
🚛 IS-238 – Critical Concepts of Supply Chain Flow & Resilience
📦 IS-703 – NIMS Resource Management
✅ BFCP Courses
🚚 Utility Truck I – Basic Awareness & Driver Training
🚛 Utility Truck II – Towing
CERT Instructors and Proctors play a critical role in providing training and emergency preparedness to our volunteers. They have completed additional formal training provided by the CERT program or through allied partnerships and approved training programs.
A Senior Volunteer is an experienced volunteer who has completed advanced training to qualify for roles such as Supervisor, Crew Boss, or other leadership positions during events or incidents. To be eligible, they must be a Volunteer Specialist in at least one specialized track. Senior Volunteers can take on various supervisory roles, including Team Lead, Crew Boss, Unit Leader, and other incident or event management positions.
Required Training
✅ FEMA Independent Study Courses
🧑💼 IS-240 – Leadership & Influence
🧠 IS-241 – Decision Making & Problem Solving
🗣 IS-242 – Effective Communication
🤝 IS-244 – Developing & Managing Volunteers
🔥 BFCP Courses
🚒 Volunteer Fire Patrol I – Awareness & Operations
🌲 Volunteer Fire Patrol II – Fire Trail Operations & Driver Training
💧 Incident Hydration & Rehab I – Basics & Awareness
🚑 Incident Hydration & Rehab II – Field Operations & Practical Exercise
✨ Optional Course
🚚 Utility Truck I – Basic Awareness & Driver Training
Duty Officers are invited by the Director of Volunteers to receive additional training. Duty Officers assume a level of responsibility including, but not limited to, coordinating BFCP response to an incident, activating rehab/canteen support, organizing Volunteer Fire Patrols, and performing routine inspections of BFCP equipment.
✅ Duty Officer Awareness & Operations
✅ Agency Representative Awareness & Operations
✅ BFCP Field Operations Training
🚒 Volunteer Fire Patrol I – Awareness & Operations
💧 Incident Hydration & Rehab I – Basics & Awareness
🚑 Incident Hydration & Rehab II – Field Operations & Practical Exercise
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