Fire Department · Combination
Caroline County Department of Fire-Rescue
Bowling Green, VA · Caroline County
Approximately 150 volunteers and 84 full-time/part-time career responders; about 2,300 EMS transports per year in addition to fire and rescue calls.
No active openings right now
Watch this department to be notified when Caroline County Department of Fire-Rescue is hiring, or check their careers page.
Department careers page ↗Caroline County Fire-Rescue operates as a combination department, blending roughly 150 volunteers with about 84 full- and part-time career personnel across six fire stations and two rescue stations spread throughout the county, including Bowling Green, Ladysmith, Port Royal, Milford, Hanover, and Woodford. The department fields a fleet of 55 emergency vehicles to cover a service area shaped by major transportation corridors and critical infrastructure, including 97 miles of primary roadway (I-95, US 1, US 301), a petroleum pipeline, active rail lines, the North Anna Nuclear Power Plant's emergency planning zone, and Fort Walker.
The department answers approximately 8,000 emergency calls a year and provides about 2,300 EMS transports annually, reflecting a workload weighted heavily toward medical response alongside structural and transportation-corridor fire protection. Leadership is headed by Fire-EMS Chief Jason R. Loftus, who joined the county in 2012 after more than two decades of fire service experience in New York, North Carolina, and Virginia, alongside Deputy Chief Mark Garnett, a Caroline County veteran since 1999 who has overseen the department's evolution from a primarily volunteer system into its current combination structure.
Recruitment runs on a continuous basis for volunteer firefighter/EMT positions, with paid career openings posted through the county's central job portal. The department emphasizes ongoing training and leadership development for its members, supported by systems like Target Solutions and ImageTrend Elite for scheduling and reporting.
Caroline County Fire-Rescue continuously recruits volunteer firefighters and EMTs to staff its combination stations, while paid career positions are posted through Caroline County's central government job portal rather than a dedicated fire-department careers page.
Requirements
- Minimum age 16 to join as a volunteer (applicants aged 16-17 require parental consent documentation)
- Pass a background check and fingerprinting
- Provide references for verification
Hiring process
- Submit an online application through the department website
- Schedule and complete fingerprinting
- Department reviews eligibility via background check
- References are interviewed and verified
- Approval moves through the chain of command to the Fire-EMS Chief, then the applicant is assigned to a company/station
Benefits
Volunteers receive tuition reimbursement for continuing education, a waived county vehicle decal fee (one vehicle), and access to skills development and leadership training opportunities.
How do I volunteer with Caroline County Fire-Rescue?
Submit an online application, complete fingerprinting, pass a background check, and provide references. Approval moves through the chain of command to the Fire-EMS Chief before you're assigned to a station.
What is the minimum age to volunteer?
Applicants must be at least 16; those aged 16-17 need parental consent documentation.
How many stations does the department operate?
Six fire stations and two rescue stations located throughout Caroline County, including Bowling Green, Ladysmith, Port Royal, Milford, Hanover, and Woodford.
Does the department offer a ride-along program?
Yes. Applicants download and review the department's ride-along policy, complete the required forms, and email them to joinccfr@co.caroline.va.us to schedule a visit.
Are paid career positions available?
Career firefighter/EMT positions are posted through Caroline County's central job portal alongside other county department openings, rather than on a dedicated fire-department careers page.