Article 1
This regulation is formulated in accordance with Paragraph 1of Article 28 in the Fire Services Act.
Article 2
Volunteer firefighters shall accept the orders of the staff in command and assist in firefighting works.
Article 3
Volunteer fire brigades (hereinafter referred to as the Brigade) established by governments of each municipality, county (city) shall set up battalions, stations, and branches according to service requirements. The organization can be referenced in the Supplementary Table.
Accident insurance must be provided for volunteer firefighters, and shall be the expense of the local government of municipality or county (city).
Internal management affairs of brigades shall by determined by the municipal, county (city) fire department (hereinafter referred to as the Fire Department) together with the Brigade.
Files：Supplementary Table
Article 4
Newly recruited volunteer firefighters (hereinafter referred to as new recruits) shall have the following qualifications:
1. A citizen of the Republic of China or foreigners (including residents from China, Hong Kong or Macao) with valid resident permits, aged 18 and above.
2. Resides in the local area and not taking part in any other volunteer or civil defense organizations.
3. Has not been sentenced to imprisonment within the past 10 years for nationals of the Republic of China, or during their stay in the Republic of China for foreigners (including residents from China, Hong Kong, and Macao). However, R.O.C. nationals with records of criminal negligence or probationary declaration are not limited to this.
Consultants are not subject to the provisions of Subparagraph 2 in the preceding Paragraph.
Men who have retired from their position as a substitute fire fighting civilian serviceman are the first eligible for hire as volunteer firefighters.
Foreign new recruits (including residents from China, Hong Kong, and Macao) shall not be included in manpower mobilization for supporting military actions.
Article 5
The hiring procedures and qualifications for all levels of volunteer firefighters are as follows (excluding consultants):
1. The commander and deputy commander of the Brigades shall be selected by the Fire Department or chosen from current volunteer firefighters with at least three years of experience at a station commander position or above (including consulting position), who have also been qualified by senior management workshop trainings. This shall be reported to the Ministry of the Interior for hire approval. Other personnel in the Brigade shall be selected by the Brigade or chosen from current volunteer firefighters with at least two years of experience at a branch head position or above (including consulting position), who have also been qualified by middle management workshop trainings. This shall be reported to the Fire Department for hire approval.
2. The commander and deputy commander of battalions shall be selected by the Brigade or chosen from current volunteer firefighters with at least two years of experience at a branch commander position or above (including consulting position), who have also been qualified by middle management workshop trainings. This shall be reported to the jurisdiction's brigade and transferred to the Fire Department for hire approval. Other personnel in the battalion shall be selected by the Brigade or chosen from current volunteer firefighters with at least one year's experience at a squad leader position or above (including consulting position), who have also been qualified by entry-level management workshop trainings. This shall be reported to the jurisdiction's brigade and transferred to the Fire Department for hire approval.
3. All personnel of the station shall be selected by the jurisdiction's brigade or chosen from current volunteer firefighters with at least one year's experience at a squad leader position or above (including consulting position), who have also been qualified by entry-level management workshop trainings. This shall be reported to the jurisdiction's station and transferred to the Fire Department for hire approval.
4. The head and deputy heads of branches shall be selected by the Brigade or battalion, or chosen from current volunteer firefighters with at least a year's experience at a deputy branch head position or above (including consulting position), who have also been qualified by basic management workshop trainings. This shall be reported to the jurisdiction’s branch and transferred to the Fire Department for hire approval. Officers, deputy officers, squad leaders, and deputy squad leaders shall be selected by the branch or chosen from current volunteer firefighters. This shall be reported to the jurisdiction's branch and transferred to the Fire Department for hire approval.
5. Branch officers shall be selected from volunteer firefighters and reported to the jurisdiction’s branch and transferred to the Fire Department for hire approval.
The staff mentioned in the preceding paragraphs 1 to 4 shall be reviewed by the a review team set up by the hiring authority. The main assessment areas shall be determined by fire department (hereinafter referred to as department).
The hiring procedure for consultants of all levels are as follows:
1. Brigade consultants shall be selected from the brigade and reported to the Fire Department for hire approval.
2. Battalion consultants shall be selected from the jurisdiction’s battalion volunteer firefighters, and reported to the jurisdiction’s brigade and transferred to the Fire Department for hire approval.
3. Station consultants shall be selected from the jurisdiction’s station volunteer firefighters, and reported to the jurisdiction’s brigade and transferred to the Fire Department for hire approval.
4. Branch consultants shall be selected from the jurisdiction’s branch volunteer firefighters, and reported to the jurisdiction’s branch and transferred to the Fire Department for hire approval.
Article 6
Age requirements for volunteer firefighters, excluding commanders, deputy commanders, and consultants, are as follows:
1. The Brigade officers: 68 years old and below.
2. Battalion officers: 65 years old and below.
3. Station officers: 63 years old and below.
4. Branch officers: 60 years old and below.
5. Special assistant battalion and station officers for disaster prevention education promotion: 65 years old and below.
Article 7
Hired volunteer firefighters, excluding consultants, branch officers, assistant officers, squad leaders, deputy squad leaders, and officers, shall be employed for a period of three years. Those with good grades may be re-appointed twice at most. However, if hired volunteer firefighters are foreigners (including residents from China, Hong Kong, or Macau), their period of employment shall be limited to their legal residence in Taiwan.
Shall volunteer firefighters in the preceding Paragraph be absent for some reason during their employment period, the successor shall be employed to make up their employment period. Successors with more than two years employment shall be counted as a single appointment.
Article 8
Volunteer firefighters may be dismissed by the hiring authority under the following circumstances:
1. Loss of the nationality of the Republic of China, change of resident purpose, revoked or cancelled resident permit.
2. Handicapped and cannot qualify for volunteer work.
3. Not residing in the local area or is taking part in other volunteer or civil defense organizations. Consultants are not limited to this.
4. Has been sentenced to imprisonment, but criminal negligence or probationary declaration are not limited to this.
5. Age exceeding requirements in Article 6.
6. Failure to participate three times or above within one year in training stipulated in Articles 10 to 14, drills stipulated in Article 16, or services stipulated in Article 18.
7. Other incompetence and behavior sufficient to affect the team's image.
Article 9
Training for volunteer firefighters include basic training, professional training, management training, long-term training, and other training.
The basic training courses shall be set by the central authority. The remaining training courses shall be set by respective training authorities at each level.
Article 10
Basic training shall be handled by the Fire Department and shall gather new recruits for more than 48 hours of training.
New recruits with prior firefighter status shall be exempt from basic training.
Article 11
Professional training takes place after basic training, and more than 24 hours of training shall be administered according to service characteristics by Fire Departments.
Article 12
The types and procedure of management training are as follows:
1. Advanced management workshop training: This shall be held by the agency. More than 12 hours of training shall be provided to previous or current volunteer firefighters with at least three years of experience at a station commander position or above (including consulting position).
2. Upper-Intermediate management workshop training: This shall be held by the Fire Department. More than 16 hours of training shall be provided to previous or current volunteer firefighters with at least two years of experience at a branch head position or above (including consulting position).
3. Elementary management workshop training: This shall be held by the Fire Department. More than 20 hours of training shall be provided to previous or current volunteer firefighters with at least one year's experience at a squad leader position or above (including consulting position), or to those who have been qualified from basic management workshop training.
4. Beginner management workshop training: This shall be held by the Fire Department. More than 24 hours of training shall be provided to previous or current volunteer firefighters with at least one year's experience (including consulting position).
Article 13
Long-term training shall be handled by the Fire Department and shall gather branches, stations, or brigades for concentrated training. The annual training hours shall be more than 24 hours.
Article 14
Other trainings shall be carried out by the agency or Fire Department to assist the promotion of firefighting services, various workshops, and publicity works.
Article 15
(Deleted)
Article 16
The Fire Department may call upon volunteer firefighters to conduct service drills or comprehensive drills shall the duty be required.
Article 17
The Fire Department may call upon volunteer firefighters to perform service shall the duty be required.
Article 18
Volunteer firefighters shall quickly arrive at the assigned service location upon receiving notice of service. Shall special situations arise, they can be exempted from service after leave application has been approved by the system.
Article 19
Volunteer firefighters shall wear provided clothing during trainings, drills, and services, and be fully equipped. However, emergency situations are not limited to this.
Article 20
Volunteer firefighting organizations shall be equipped with the following, and shall be provided to volunteer firefighters for use:
1. Firefighting coats, helmets, shoes, raincoats.
2. Self-container breathing apparatus or protecting equipment.
3. Disassembling tools.
4. Other equipment necessary for assisting in firefighting.
Article 21
The banner and service certificates of volunteer firefighting organizations shall be issued by the Fire Department.
The service certificate format in the preceding Paragraph shall be determined by the agency.
Article 22
Volunteer firefighting organizations may not make official communications to the public independently.
Article 23
The attendance and performance of volunteer firefighters during trainings, drills, and services are assessed by the Fire Department and made into written records for re-employment reference.
Article 24
The agency shall conduct evaluation and review of the Brigades at least once every three years.
Article 25
The funds required in this regulation shall be budgeted by the agency for central governments, and by the municipality and county (city) governments for municipalities, counties (cities).
Article 26
Port fire brigades can establish volunteer firefighting organizations according to the agency's regulations to assist in firefighting work. The organization, training, drill, and service requirements shall be in accordance with this regulation.
Article 27
This regulation shall be implemented as of the date of its release.