Fire Corps, a new program to support fire departments by encouraging citizen advocates to serve in non-emergency roles, was launched at an event in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building today.

Desiree T. Sayle, Deputy Assistant to the President and Director of USA Freedom Corps was joined at the launch by Matt Mayer, Chief of Staff, Office of State and Local Government Preparedness, U.S. Department of Homeland Security, and Chief R. David Paulison, United States Fire Administrator, U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

“Through Fire Corps, Americans will have new opportunities to strengthen their communities by assisting their local fire departments,” Sayle said. “As Fire Corps members serve in firehouses across the country, they will be serving vital community interests and enabling more firefighters to become more available for front-line duty. Fire Corps is helping to fulfill the President’s Call to Service for all Americans to make volunteering an important part of our lives.”

Coordinated nationally by the National Volunteer Fire Council, Fire Corps is a Program Partner of Citizen Corps, President George W. Bush’s grass-roots effort to actively involve everyone in making communities across America safer, stronger, and better prepared for emergencies of all kinds. Citizen Corps is a vital component of USA Freedom Corps, the President’s effort to encourage volunteer service and promote a culture of service, citizenship, and responsibility. For more information, visit www.usafreedomcorps.gov.

Through its partnerships with fire service organizations and local Citizen Corps Councils across the country, Fire Corps will actively involve citizens in public education, training, and volunteer efforts focused on fire prevention and safety. Fire Corps is a partnership between The National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC), the International Association of Fire Chiefs Volunteer Combination Officers Section (VCOS), the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF), and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s U.S. Fire Administration and Office of State and Local Government Preparedness and Coordination.

“Across this nation, we are keenly aware of people with a strong desire to serve their communities and contribute their time and skills to support homeland security, and in particular their local firefighters,” Chief Paulison said. “When firefighters can stand side by side with citizens in promoting fire prevention and general safety efforts, and are able to invite citizens to assist with non emergency responsibilities, the overall security and safety of their community is greatly enhanced.”

For more information on Fire Corps, please visit www.firecorps.org. For more information on Citizen Corps, please visit www.citizencorps.gov.

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