Most volunteer firefighters and EMS members hold day jobs so when the tones drop for an emergency, most are not available to go help, and the response and scene times can be extensively long. Many employers will not let these volunteers leave, show up late, or miss work due to an emergency, and that could result in the firing of the employee. Emergency personnel should be protected in their places of employment, just as soldiers are.
We petition that any and all volunteer emergency personnel be protected from termination or other penalties in their job for tardiness, absence, or leaving of their place of employment for the immediate and sustained care and management of an official emergency that the employee's fire department or ambulance service responds to.