Olive Volunteer Fire Department

Have you ever wanted to help someone by saving their life or property from a fire? Well now you can! We seek forward thinking, fast paced, disciplined individuals interested in making a difference in the community as a professional emergency responder. If you are interested in joining, please review the information below, download and return the application below. Please note you MUST BE ABLE TO respond to emergencies, attend and participate in monthly meetings, training, activities, etc.

ENTRY LEVEL REQUIREMENTS:

1. 18 years of age or older,                                                                                         

2. Live within 30 road miles of the fire station,                                                             

3. Be of good moral character,                                                                                    

4. Be in good physical condition (pass a medical physical),                                                                                 

5. No felony and certain misdemeanor convictions,

6. Possess a valid Oklahoma driver's license,

7. Submit a written application,

8. Pass a state and federal background check,

9. Pass a physical agility test (PAT)*,

10. Pass a membership interview and vote.

In addition to having the satisfaction of being able to help someone in need, all members are provided uniforms, equipment, training and covered by general liability insurance, vehicle operator insurance, workers compensation, line-of-duty death benefits, membership to the state firefighter associations and state earned performance-based tax credit incentives.  

Applicants who possess certain fire and/or emergency medical certification may receive preference upon successful completion of the comprehensive application process. 

*PAT- Firefighter's work in hostile environments and you must be physically prepared for the demands of the job. It is essential that individuals seeking membership as a firefighter possess certain physical characteristics (Cardio-Respiratory Fitness, Appropriate Body Composition, Strength/Muscular Endurance and Flexibility) because the potential demands of the occupation are not only great but may be life-threatening.  You will be tested on the following pass/fail categories: Walk/Run .38 mile with a target time of 12 minutes, preform 10 standard bent knee sit ups with a target time of 2 minutes, preform 10 standard pushups with a target time of 2 minutes, carry equipment weighing 53 pounds 43 feet with a target time of 1 minute, 20 Overhead Sledgehammer Tire Strikes with a target time of 1 minute.  It is recommended that you prepare for this several months prior to the test.

Joining the volunteer fire service means a lifestyle change not only for the individual volunteer, but also for their entire family. To help family members navigate the volunteer fire service life, the National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) partnered with FirefighterWife.com to create the new resource, What to Expect: A Guide for Family Members of Volunteer Firefighters.

This guide is intended for spouses, children, parents, siblings, or significant others of volunteer and paid-on-call responders. It introduces family members to the basics of the volunteer firefighter life and provides guidance for keeping family relationships strong, being part of the fire department family, and more. There are also first-hand accounts from volunteer firefighters and their family members along with an array of tips and resources to help first responder families adjust to this lifestyle.

To review this guide, please click the photo below.

Our training program assures that all members possess the necessary skills and abilities to safely and effectively deal with any situation they might encounter as a team. This responsibility begins the day new firefighters are hired and continues throughout their careers to retirement. To accomplish this, we developed a training plan as a comprehensive all-hazards approach that complies with federal, state and local regulations as well as the needs of the department. This design allows personnel to increase their abilities in all disciplines, which will increase the overall capabilities of the organization and increase the level of service to the citizens and visitors of Olive. The plan is designed to be specific yet allow for the flexibility to take advantage of unforeseen training opportunities, or to address urgent department needs.

Olive firefighters have documented over 8,537 hours of training and 20,415 contact hours of fire suppression, technical rescue, emergency vehicle operations, hazardous materials, emergency medical, officer, incident command, fire inspection/investigation and public relations training and certification by attending in-house and outside training opportunities since 1993. 

We have several members certified as Oklahoma FTAC Support, Basic, Intermediate, Advanced and Master Firefighters and Oklahoma FTAC Support and Executive Officers. In order to receive this certification, the member must successfully complete a set number of training hours per level which ranges from 40 to 322 hours.

Please click on the photos below to see some of our training.  

Our emergency response fleet consist of 3 Engines, 1 Rescue Squad, 3 Brush Trucks, 2 Water Tankers, 2 Command Units, 1 UTV and 2 Boats carrying a total 7,775 gallons of water and specialized equipment.

Please click in the photos below for more information. 

Do you have an emergency response agreement (formally known as fire protection agreement or subscription) or have you renewed your agreement this year?  If not it’s time to do so. 

Agreements can be purchased for $144.00 effective for one year. Six-month agreements are also available.

With your annual agreement, you avoid costly charges up to $5,000.00 for services.  Consider this agreement a supplemental insurance policy to your homeowners/vehicle/medical insurance.  You can't afford not to have this!

Did you know under Oklahoma state statute (Title 36 Section 4809) insurance companies may give special or reduced rate for fire insurance in rural areas if you subscribe to fire dues so make sure you notify them.  

Terms of the agreement are: This agreement entered into voluntarily by and between the customer, whether single or plural, and the Olive Volunteer Fire Department (hereinafter referred to as OVFD). The parties agree to as follows: (1) The customer voluntarily tenders OVFD the sum for an annual fee. The receipt of which is hereby acknowledged. The customer should make a copy of this agreement. (2) The customer is responsible for the return of this agreement and payment to OVFD which will make this agreement valid upon OVFD receipt. (3) OVFD agrees to respond when available to the premises described above in accordance with OVFD Standard Operating Guidelines. (4) Neither OVFD nor any agent or servant thereof assumes any liability or responsibility to the customer and shall not be responsible for claims of any nature arising out of this agreement. (5) The customer shall be solely responsible for renewing this agreement upon its annual expiration date from the date received by OVFD. (6) This agreement can be terminated by the customer or OVFD at any time for any reason and subject to change without notice. (7) Per Oklahoma Statute Title 36 Section 4809 insurance companies may give special or reduced rate for fire insurance in rural areas if the customer is subscribed to fire dues and by providing them proof of this agreement. The customer understands the insurance company may have policy provisions in place to reimburse the costs associated with the emergency response and the OVFD may attempt to recovery such funds and the customer will not have any out-of-pocket expense if the insurance company refuses to pay.  Any insurance payment received related to OVFD services rendered must be delivered to OVFD. (8) Hazardous materials responses involving the release of any hazardous materials from its container that has the potential to harm persons, property or the environment is not covered by this agreement. (9) If the customer conducts a prescribed/control burn and the burn becomes out of control, the custom is hereby notified he/she will be charged for fire response if the burn is not reported per Oklahoma Statute Title 2 Section 16-28, and/or done on an elevated fire danger/red flag warning issued by the National Weather Service, and/or during a county/state declared burn ban, and/or found guilty under any Oklahoma Unlawful Burning/Arson Statutes. In witness whereof, the parties have agreed to and executed this agreement.

Agreements may download below. (Note: All IEC customers must use the Emergency Response Agreement- IEC form below) 

Being underground or in a safe room is the best place to be during a tornado or severe weather event, but what happens if you're left trapped inside by debris?  Who will find you in a timely manner? 

The purpose of our Storm Shelter Registry is to provide a computerized database of storm shelter locations in the Olive area to assist emergency responders in locating and assisting residents that may have been trapped in their storm sherlter by debris. 

This information will only be used in the event of an emergency and will not be shared with anyone outside the emergency services.

Registration form may download below. 

We get a lot of questions about prescribed or controlled burns so we would like to address them in detail. 

Oklahoma's ecosystems are nearly all fire dependent.  Fire helps shape the plant communities that we depend on or for grazing, hay, wildlife, wood products and water quality.  When properly used, fire can be a powerful land management tool.  Improperly applied, fire can be a devastating force, destroying property and sometimes lives.  (Source: Oklahoma Forestry Service)

Legally entitled property owners/authorized tenants may conduct burns anytime during the year however when you do a burn, significant civil lability (damage/destruction to neighbor's property, etc.) and criminal charges (arson, endangering human life, etc.) can incur if the burn goes wrong.

The Oklahoma Forestry Code, Oklahoma DEQ and the International Fire Code defines burning in the state. Specifically, OFC Section 2:16-28.2 requires a burn notification form submitted to your local fire department 48 hours prior to the burn, neighbor notification, adequate fire lines, personnel and equipment, etc. The laws and forms may be found below. 

We also recommend NO outdoor burning when the fire danger rating is "high, very high, extreme, or when a Red Flag Warning, Fire Weather Watch or Ozone Alert are issued".  We maintain the fire danger sign at the fire station and at Highway 33 and 433rd. You should always check the current weather conditions which may be found on our "home" page.  

Under a county or state declared burn ban, burning shall be prohibited however special exemptions for extreme hardship caused by unusual or extenuating circumstances may be allowed and burn applications must be issued for approval.  Each situation will be evaluated for the need and granted in those cases where there are no other alternatives available. 

What about household trash? Oklahoma law (OAC 252:100-13-7(e)) states you may only burn domestic refuse where it is generated only if you don't have collection and disposal services in your area.  Most of our area has trash services.  

We also highly recommend reading "Guidebook for Prescribed Burning in the Southern Region" at https://sref.info/resources/publications/guidebook-for-prescribed-burning-in-the-southern-region. This book will guide you step-by-step through the process of planning, preparing for and conducting your prescribe burn.   

Due to liability issues, equipment, personnel needs and expenses, we do not conduct or participate in the burns however we will respond if becomes out of control. 

Please read the documents below to make sure your burn is within the law. The only form that is required by law to be complete is the Oklahoma Forestry Burn Notification Form however we recommend also using the Prescribed Brun Plan form as it provides more details of your burn.    

Be safe and pre-plan before you burn.  Don't hurt yourself, your neighbors, firefighters or the citizens as we rush to put out your control burn!

Q- How do I contact you? A- If you have an emergency immediately call 9-1-1.  If you need general information, please call the fire station non-emergency number at 918-352-4040 and if we don't answer please leave a message. If it’s urgent and can’t wait, you can call our dispatch at 918-352-3131 and they will contact us. You can also email or send us a message on Facebook. 

Q- If I call 9-1-1 from my cell phone will Drumright dispatch answer my call? A- Depends on your location. The system should route your call from your cell location to the to the closest 9-1-1 center however it doesn’t always work, and your call may be answered at the other 9-1-1 centers in Bristow, Mannford, Sapulpa, etc.  Due to this, we recommend you tell the operator you live within the Olive fire district, so the call gets routed to our dispatch center which is Drumright if you need us.

Q- Do you fill swimming pools? A- No we don’t due to liability issues, equipment, personnel needed and expenses.

Q- Is my donation tax deductible? A- Yes, we are an IRS 501c3 organization and can provide you with a donation receipt. 

Q- I want to do a control burn but don’t know what to do, can you help? A- Please see the “Prescribed Burn Information” section for more information. 

Q- Do you teach CPR and First Aid to the public? A- No we don't teach to the general public anymore. 

Q- How do I join the fire department? A- Please see the “Recruitment” section for more information. 

Q- Do I need to have previous experience to apply? A- No, but having experience is helpful. 

Q- Is there any training I should take prior to applying? A- No, we provide all the training but if you want to get a head start, you can take the online FEMA NIMS-ICS 100, 200 and 700 classes now. 

Q- Do you have a cadet firefighter program? A- No we don’t due to federal/state labor laws and liability issues. 

Q- Why can’t I listen to you on the scanner anymore? A- We have switched over to a new statewide 800mhz radio system which takes a special scanner to listen however you can still listen to the dispatch pages.

Q- How do I purchase a fire agreement? A- Please see the “Emergency Response Agreement” section for more information. 

Q- How do I compliment or complain on a firefighter? A- You can complete and send us the “Complement/Complaint Form” found on the home page. 

Q- How do I get a 9-1-1 address? A- Addresses are provided by the Creek County Assessor's office at 918-227-6369.  

Q- How do I take advantage of the lower insurance rating? A- You can send your insurance company a copy of our “2019 ISO PPC Letter” found on the home page. 

Q- Can you provide my insurance with a letter verifying I reside in your fire district? A- Yes, we do this all the time you just need to provide us with some basic information. 

Q- How do I register my storm shelter? A- Please see the “Storm Shelter Registration” section for more information. 

Q- Is your meetings open to the public? A- Yes, they are unless we enter into executive session. The monthly meeting information can be found on the home page, on the outside board at the station or at the county clerk's office. 

Q- What happens if I can’t pay the entire amount on my bill or don’t pay at all? A- We can enter into a monthly payment plan without being charged interest. But if you don’t pay your bill, then we can file a civil suit in district court however that is the last step we want to take. 

Q- What do I do with a check I received from my insurance company for fire service fees? A- You endorse the check and return it to us. Some insurance companies send the fee payment to the policy holder making the policy holder legally responsible to give it to the fire department. If you fail to do so, criminal and civil charges can be filed on behalf of the insurance company and fire department for embezzlement and the insurance can cancel your policy and hold all loss payments.    

Q- Why did the fire truck pass me with the lights and siren on and then turn them off? A- Most likely the call was cancelled or downgraded to a non-emergency response. 

Q- Can I burn my trash? A- Depends on your situation. Please see “Prescribed Burn Information” section for more information. 

Q- Does the fire department run the ambulance? A- No our area is serviced by the City of Mannford EMS and Creek County EMS, but we respond to medical calls within our district. 

Q- Do you have a tornado siren and when do you use it? A- Yes in 2015 we received a grant to purchase the first ever outdoor warning siren for our community. We will only sound it if: 1. The NWS observes conditions on the radar that indicate a possible tornado has developed or is likely to develop, 2. Spotters in the field observe organized, persistent rotating funnel or tornado and 3. Any other life-threatening situation at the direction of the fire chief or designee. 

Q- How do I get a copy of my fire report? A- Complete and send us the “Public Record Request Form” found on our home page. 

Q- How does the ISO rating works? A- The rating comes from a private company who grades the fire department on communications, operations, water supply and risk reduction and then issues a rating from 1-10, 1 being the best and 10 being no protection.  If you are further then five road miles to the fire station, your rating is automatically a 10 even though the fire department received a good rating. Olive’s rating is a 5/10.  Please see our map on the “home page” to determine your location and rating. 

Q- Do you have any smoke detectors and how much do they cost? A- Yes, we do, and they are free. 

Q- Who does fire code inspections and investigations? A- The state fire marshal is legally responsible for all inspections, investigations and enforcement issues in our area. We can help answer questions but will refer back to the state fire marshal's office. 

Q- Can you look at my property and tell me if I am wildfire ready. A- We can and so can you. We have posted the “Wildland Home Assessment Checklist” on the home page to help you prepare for wildfires. 

Q- Where do I go to check on the local weather conditions? A- We have linked several sources of weather information at the bottom of our home page. 

Q- Is there anything I or you can do about my neighbors burning? A- You can call the Creek County Sheriff or Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality and make a complaint if you believe they are illegally burning per state statute (see “Prescribed Burn Information” section). We can respond and investigate however if the owner doesn’t want us there or there are no burn bans, we cannot trespass or extinguish the fire and unfortunately, we do not have the jurisdiction to issue a citation. If we feel there is a significant danger, we will call the sheriff's department for assistance.  

Q- Can I purchase a fire agreement from another department that is closer to my house or property? A- Yes you can however the fire department that has legal authority to cover you may bill you when they show up to the emergency. 

Q- Can I burn during a county or state burn ban? A- No, however you may apply for a special permit through the fire department or forestry service which provides strict guidelines. 

Q- Why does a "non" fire truck arrive first when I called for a fire truck?  A- The "non" fire truck is a quick response command vehicle drove by the fire chief or assistant fire chief who usually arrives before the fire truck to size-up and determine the best way of managing the situation.  They do carry a small amount of fire, rescue and medical equipment.

Q- What is the fire sales tax that passed in July 2021? A- It is a dedicated perpetual 1/6th of a cent tax split between 15 fire departments in Creek County. It can only be used to purchase fire equipment, trucks, stations, utilities, and training.  

Q- Why do you have boats when there are no lakes around us? A- We have several large deep ponds and creeks in our area in additional to the flood prone areas that is only accessible by a watercraft. The boats are also available to assist other agencies when needed.    

Q- Do you trade patches? A- We currently don't due to the limited number we have and increasing cost of purchasing them. 

Q- Can I shoot off fireworks? A- Yes, if they are consumer grade fireworks then they are permitted however if they are display grade fireworks (include, but not limited to, salutes containing more than two grains of explosive composition, aerial shells containing more than forty grams of pyrotechnic compositions and other exhibition display items that exceed the limits for consumer grade) for the purposes of outdoor/indoor public displays, then you must have a display operator's license and a permit from the state fire marshal's office.  Additional information may be found on the fire marshal's website, Oklahoma Statute Title 68 Article 16 and the International Fire Code Chapter 56. 

Q- How do you determine the cost to charge me for my emergency? A- We determine our cost of services based on the latest FEMA Rate Schedule.  We charge hourly rates for our trucks and personnel.  Additional charges may apply if we use specialized or disposable equipment. 

Q-Why did it take a long time for a fire truck to show up at my emergency? A- It could have been several factors such as a 9-1-1 routing issue delaying our dispatch, your physical location from the fire station and drive time, incorrect address or location, weather conditions, poor road conditions or the time it takes for the volunteers to respond. 

Q- What does bring a volunteer have to do with response times? A- Volunteers are not at the station all the time so when we receive a call, the volunteers must leave their full-time job (if allowed) or their house, or a sporting event with their kid, etc., respond to the station in their private vehicle obeying all the traffic laws, get dress in protective clothing, get in the truck and respond. This can take several minutes. We try to be as fast as we can however not being a full-time department with staff at the fire station does determine how quick we get to your emergency.   

Q- Why are you not a full-time fire department? A- Unfortunately we do not have the funding to pay full-time personnel.  We believe you deserve a full-time department because time equals life and property.  We are currently exploring options such as federal grants and specialized assessment of ad valorem tax to become a full-time 24-7-365 department, but we will need your help.   

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