Thursday, March 28, 2024

Letters looking for volunteers and donations are not from the fire department

NEWPORT NEWS — There’s another scam making its rounds, this time under the guise of the Newport News Fire Department.

Letters soliciting volunteers for area fire departments as well as monetary donations have been mailed out to residents in the city.

The Newport News Fire Department wants to make residents aware that letters being mailed out from the Volunteer Firefighter Alliance are not from NNFD and are not associated with the department, according to a news release.

As an all professional fire and EMS department, NNFD does not recruit volunteers nor solicit donations from the department, according to the news release..

Here are some ways residents can become involved with the fire department:

  • Join the NNFD team as a firefighter/medic recruit. The NNFD recruit hiring process is open through Aug. 17. Learn more at nnfdcareers.nnva.gov.
  • Serve on the Community Emergency Response Team. CERTs receive important training that allows them to help themselves, their families, neighbors, and colleagues during a disaster/emergency. Applications are now being accepted for the next class, which starts Sept. 11.
  • Participate in the Citizen Fire Academy. This 14-week interactive program gives participants firsthand knowledge about the fire and emergency medical services functions of the department, as well as training in first aid, CPR/AED, and use of fire extinguishers.
  • Help save lives through PulsePoint. NNFD participates in this program that utilizes a mobile app to alert CPR trained residents when someone nearby is experiencing sudden cardiac arrest.

While the department does not solicit donations, members of the Citizen Fire Academy Alumni Association do solicit donations through the Virginia Peninsula Chamber Foundation to support fire department activities that are not included in the operating budget.

Any unsolicited donations received by the department are placed directly in the Safe House Fund. Officials said 100 percent of any funds received go directly to public education outreach, predominately for school age children and senior citizens.

To learn about the Newport News Fire Department, click here. 

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