Join Our Volunteer Family

Do you want to be a part of a great family that makes an enormous difference in their community every single day? Volunteers with the Round Hill Volunteer Fire Department (RHVFD) have been doing just that for over a century! We would love to include you as a member of this family who work very hard at continuing such an important and rewarding tradition.

Picture this?

What is it like to be a Firefighter?

Your truck turns into the development, siren sounding. You look up and all you can see is black smoke billowing down the street and an eerie orange glow behind it? and you're about to drive straight into it. As you get out you can feel the heat already, but you go right to work. You focus on the orders given and set your mind to doing your job.

Your team starts toward the house. Just then, a frightened woman comes screaming ? "My son, I can't find Benny!!" You look at the house engulfed in flame and your heart drops, oh no. As you enter the house you say a silent prayer? please let us find Benny.

In the house, flames everywhere licking at walls, the ceiling, sounding like a roaring lion trapped in a cage. You douse flames as you go trying desperately to find Benny. You head up the stairs and all of a sudden, maybe, you hear a small whimper. You shout out with no answer. Dousing more flame, you hear a loader cry? "Mommy!" You did hear it!! You signal your partner, head toward the sound, and become fighting animals on a mission. The crying gets louder, you're getting closer! The smoke is so thick and dense you're almost blind. You shout out again. Then, a brief glimpse, you see it, a small hand reaching through the smoke. You've got him! We've got to get him out, now!

Working your way out, you meet up with more crew who help clear a path. Through what looks like a kitchen you get out the back door, and you feel the air cool you almost instantly. You're out, and you have Benny with you! As you carry Benny to the ambulance the mother comes running? "Benny, Benny, oh God, Benny!" She turns to you crying saying you saved him, thank you so much, you saved my baby! You smile to her and as you walk back to finish your work, you can't seem to wipe off the smile.

But what about being an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT)?

You arrive at the scene, it's a major car accident. As soon as you get out of the ambulance you can hear terrified cries. They're in pain, scared, and confused. You grab your gear and you and your partners head toward the sounds. Someone reaches out to you and you take their hand to comfort them.

As you talk to them, give them ease, you help take care of their injuries and get them on their way to the hospital. When you're ready to hand them over to the nurses and doctors, they reach out again and thank you for saving them! As you walk away, you feel like you're on cloud nine because you just made a life-saving difference for someone.

But I can't run into fires, no way! And forget about all that medical stuff. What can I do?

Well, don't worry. If you don't want to be a volunteer firefighter or medical technician, let's look at what you COULD do.

• Fundraising: Are you good with reaching out to organizations and businesses and raising money? If so, we could use your skills for pulling together our flower sales, our annual community donation letter, as well as other events you deem would be of interest to the town that would raise money for the Station.
• Analytical: We need your skills to analyze and update existing documentation such as our By-laws, Charter, Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).
• Special Events Coordinator: The Station is frequently called upon to provide support to local fireworks displays, Appalachian Trail Day, EMT support for 5K, 10K races, Dinner with Santa, Round Hill Days, annual Volunteer Banquet and other special happenings nearby. This takes skills in organization, communication, dealing with all levels of bureaucracy and attention to detail.
• Grant Writer: We are always looking for ways to increase our financial resources and there are many, many grants available and we need to right person to inquire with the various outlets, work with various Station members on what is needed and submit all the required documentation.
• Accounting: We are looking for someone with these skills to fill the Board Treasurer position. You would keep track of all the investments and bank accounts.
• Maintenance: If you're skilled in electrical, plumbing, heating, standard improvements and vehicle maintenance, these skills could be used to help manage of our Station's equipment and vehicle needs, and work with the County on resources and planning for the new Fire Station.
• Logistical: If you have a background in acquisition, we are could use your skills in purchasing and maintaining Station's Personal Protection Equipment (PPE), Station clothing and swag.
• Recruitment: Have you worked in Human Resources and/or Recruiting. Do you have the organization and personality to talk to, work with, guide, correspond and follow up with potential volunteers to get them on-board, through the County Orientation and back to Station for swearing in? Then those skills are needed.
• Technical: Do you have experience in system administration, technical acquisition, web development, then we could always use these skills to maintain or develop web pages, databases and suggesting what technical advances the Station could utilize.

No job is too small!!

So, what does it all mean?

There are so many ways you can help! Any member can plan and support our community events, as well as take on official roles like Treasurer, Secretary, or even be the President (wouldn't that be awesome?)! Being a Firefighter and EMT are life-saving opportunities. But we also need people who would love to take on behind the scenes roles that help keep our family together and running like a well-oiled machine.

In simple words, you will gain a tremendous satisfaction in knowing that you are helping your friends, family and neighbors at their most difficult and stressful times in their lives, or by helping to raise funds in building a great Fire Rescue facility and keep it operational. It's a wonderful feeling knowing that YOU helped make a difference in your community and having that sense of belonging to a group of like-minded folks, it makes it all worthwhile. So please come join us. Make a difference, help your neighbors, and have a TON of fun doing it!

If you're interested in becoming part of our Fire Rescue family, please email or call our membership committee at (703) 382-6800 or via email at Jeff@firemedia.tv for more information.