A volunteer fire department (VFD) is a fire department composed of volunteers who perform fire suppression and other related emergency services for a local jurisdiction. The first large organized force of firefighters was the Corps of Vigiles, established in ancient Rome in 6 AD. The term "volunteer" contrasts with career firefighters who are fully compensated for their services. Some volunteer firefighters may be part of a combination fire department that utilizes both full-time and volunteer firefighters. In this way, a station can be staffed 24 hours between volunteer and career firefighters. Both provide essential staffing on apparatuses during their assigned staffing hours. The term "volunteer" may also be used in reference to a group of part-time or on-call firefighters who may have other occupations when not engaged in occasional firefighting. Although they may have "volunteered" to become members, and to respond to the call for help, they are compensated as employees during the time they are responding to or attending an emergency scene, and possibly for training. An on-call firefighter may also volunteer time for other non-emergency duties as well (training, fundraising, equipment maintenance, etc.). Volunteer firefighters go through the same training as career personnel do. When volunteers join a department, they sign up for a Firefighter classes that teach them what they need to know to become a volunteer firefighter.

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