Applications for membership are available at the Gettysburg Fire Department. We are located at 35 North Stratton Street.

Applicants for membership in the Gettysburg Fire Department must be at least 18 years of age and capable of fulfilling the duties of his/her classification of membership. The applicant must also live within the Gettysburg Fire Department's first due coverage area. Youth ages 14-17 may apply for membership in the Gettysburg Junior Fire Department

There are three classifications of membership that you may apply for. You may only apply for one classification.

1. Probationary: A member will be considered probationary during the first twelve (12) months of membership. It shall be the right of each probationary member to choose the function or combination of functions (ie. Firefighter, ambulance attendant, or fire police) that he/she wish to participate and it shall be the duty of the Fire Board to set minimum training requirements for each function. Any member, Active or Probationary, wishing to change his / her function must complete the minimum training requirements for that function. Probationary members who attain twenty-five (25) points during the current point year will be permitted to vote in the Department Election of Officers.

Probationary members are eligible for departmental workers' compensation and death benefits at the time of their inception. They are not eligible for membership dues and fees to the County and State Associations to be paid by the Department.

2. Auxiliary Support: Any member of the Gettysburg Fire Department who complies with the conditions for membership as stated in the By-Laws of the Department, except the training requirements, may apply for this classification of membership. He/she may attend any Department function, will be permitted to vote on matters of the Department, will be permitted to vote in the election of Administrative Officers only, but will not be permitted to participate in any emergency responses (the Chief or President may supersede this rule and appoint the Auxiliary Support member a Temporary Active Member during an emergency). In order to maintain this classification of membership, the Auxiliary Support member is required to maintain fifteen (15) points per year unless running for an Administrative Office, in which case the twenty-five (25) point minimum requirement will be in effect. Under no circumstances may an Auxiliary Support member be permitted to become an Active member without first completing Probationary membership requirements.

Auxiliary Support members are eligible for departmental workers' compensation and death benefits. Their membership dues to the County and State Associations shall be paid by the Department.

3. Social: Any person whose desire it is to provide the Department with non-emergency assistance may apply for this classification of membership. Social members will be permitted to attend Department meetings but will not be allowed to vote on any matters of the Department. They will not be permitted to hold any office, vote in the Departmental election of Officers, and will not be permitted to participate in any emergency responses. Persons in this classification of membership shall be exempt from the point system criteria of the Department. Those applying for Social membership with the Department are not required to submit a PA State Police Criminal History Check. Under no circumstances may any Social member become an Active member without first completing Probationary membership requirement.

Social members are eligible for department workers' compensation. They are not eligible for death benefits or for State or County Association dues to be paid by the Department.

Description of the point system:

The Gettysburg Fire Department has in effect an eligibility point system which issues points for various activities which members participate in. Points are given for participation in the following activities: attending meetings, responding to emergency calls, training, fund raising activities (such as carnival, dinners, etc.), holding an elected office, attending drills, work details, stand-bys, bunking-in, etc.