Volunteer fire brigade (VPS)
Verified 01 January 2023 - Directorate for Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister)
Any person, whether working or not, can become a volunteer firefighter (VPD) if they meet certain conditions. The VPS participates throughout the territory in civil security missions of all kinds entrusted mainly to the fire and rescue services (property, person, environment). The VPS commitment is 5 years. It is renewable. Missions are entitled to compensation. The engagement may be suspended for personal reasons.
You can become a volunteer firefighter (VPD), whether you are in a professional or not.
You must meet several conditions (age, fitness, civic, etc.).
You participate throughout the territory in civil security missions of all kinds entrusted mainly to fire and rescue services (property, person, environment).
You are not paid, but only compensated, unlike professional firefighters.
The activity of the VPS is based on volunteer work. You commit for a period of 5 years. Your commitment is automatically renewable, if you continue to meet the original commitment conditions.
Age
You must be at least 16 years old (21 years old to be an officer).
If you are a minor, you must obtain the written consent of one of your parents or your tutor.
Physical Fitness
Your physical fitness to perform VPS missions is verified during a medical recruitment visit.
Civic conditions
It is not necessary to be a French national.
You must meet the following conditions:
- Completed defence and citizenship day (JDC) and be in possession of certification of services performed if you performed national or military service (if you are a French national)
- Enjoy your civil rights
- Not having been convicted as set out in criminal record bulletin 2
Obligations regarding the VPS commitment
The activity of SPV is carried out with obedience, discretion and responsibility. You also agree to respect the national charter of the VPS.
In the event of non-compliance with these obligations, sanctions may be imposed.
Please note
employers who encourage their employees to volunteer may be awarded the "employer partner of the firefighters" label.
Your application will vary depending on whether you wish to become a VPS in Paris or in small crown, in Marseille or elsewhere.
General case
Applications can be obtained by post sent on free paper to the Departmental Fire and Rescue Service (Sdis).
The selection of candidates is made by the Sdis, according to criteria that it sets itself.
Who shall I contact
In Marseille
You must apply to the Marseille fire brigade on free paper.
Who shall I contact
Commitment Duration
You commit for a period of 5 years. This period is automatically renewable if you continue to meet the original commitment conditions.
Warning
if you are engaged in a professional activity, your employer must authorise any absence justified by a mission, unless your presence at work is required (absolute necessity of service). Your absence is not remunerated by your employer.
You benefit from initial training adapted to VPS missions.
You then benefit from continuous training and development to maintain your skills and develop your specialities.
You may also receive training in activity and responsibility following a change in rank to perform a new activity or responsibility functions.
Training is provided in particular through the following facilities:
- National Academy of Fire Officers
- Agreement for the Mediterranean Forest (said Civil Security Application School)
- Fire and Emergency Services
- National Centre for the Territorial Public Service
- Permanent military units of civilian security missions
Upon your engagement, an individual training booklet is provided by your management authority. This booklet lists the following:
- Qualifications obtained in the course of your VPS activity
- Activities carried out during your engagement
- Copy of the qualifications obtained attached
The booklet is completed by yourself throughout your engagement.
Suspension of commitment
You can suspend your engagement for one or more periods, up to a maximum of 5 years, for the following reasons:
- Family
- Professional
- School or University
- Parental Leave
The suspension shall be for a minimum period of 6 months.
The periods of suspension of the engagement are not taken into account for your career advancement and seniority, but you retain your rank and seniority.
At the end of your suspension, you resume your activity after a medical examination.
If you wish to suspend your commitment, you must contact the human resources department of your departmental fire and rescue service (Sdis) by letter RAR: titleContent.
If your Sdis does not have a human resources department, contact your centre manager directly by letter or single letter RAR: titleContent.
Who shall I contact
The advancement of VPS takes place within a hierarchy comprising the following grades:
- Sapper
- Corporal
- NCO (Sergeant and Warrant Officer)
- Officer (Lieutenant, Captain, Commander, Lieutenant-Colonel and Colonel)
Promotion is subject to seniority and training conditions.
Unlike professional firefighters, volunteer firefighters are not paid, but compensated.
Grade | Amount |
|---|---|
Sapper | €8.36 |
Corporal | €8.97 |
NCO | €10.13 |
Officer | €12.58 |
Hourly allowances are exempt from income tax.
After you stop your VPS appointment, you receive an allowance or a benefit. Its amount depends on the following 2 elements:
- Year you ended your engagement
- Number of years of service
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Before 2004
You have the right to vintage allocation if you meet the following conditions:
- You're at least 55 years old
- You have completed at least 20 years of service (15 years if your operational disability has been medically recognised)
- You are up to date on your pension insurance contribution
Payment terms and amounts vary from department to department.
The Veterans Allowance has the following characteristics:
- Exempt from taxes and social levies (CSG, CRDS...)
- Non-transferrable (it is assigned to you personally and therefore cannot be assigned to another person)
- Cumulative with any income or social benefit
In the event of death, the Veterans Allowance continues to be paid to your Civil partnership or partner if the Civil partnership was made at least 2 years before death or if you had a child with your partner.
In 2004
You have the right to loyalty allowance if you meet the following conditions:
- You're at least 55 years old
- You have completed at least 20 years of service (15 years if your operational disability has been medically recognised)
- You are up to date on your pension insurance contribution
The loyalty allowance is paid only once a year.
The amount of the allowance differs depending on the number of years of service performed.
Number of years of service | Annual |
|---|---|
Between 20 and 24 years of service | About €450 |
Between 25 and 29 years of service | About €600 |
Between 30 and 34 years of service | About €700 |
Between 35 and more years of service | About €800 |
The loyalty allowance is tax-free (but it must be reported with all of your income).
It is not subject to social levies (CSG, CRDS...).
It is non-transferrable (it is assigned to you personally and therefore cannot be assigned to another person).
It is cumulative with any income or social benefit.
In the event of death, the Loyalty Allowance continues to be paid to your Civil partnership or partner if the Civil partnership was made at least 2 years before death or if you had a child with your partner.
Between 2005 and 2015
You have the right to loyalty and recognition (PFR) if you meet the following conditions:
- You're at least 55 years old
- You have completed at least 20 years of service (15 years if your operational disability has been medically recognised)
- You are up to date on your pension insurance contribution
The LIP is paid only once a year.
You can use the LCP website to find out how much it costs. To do this, you need to log in and open a personal account.
Access to its Volunteer Firefighter Loyalty and Reconnaissance Account (PFR)
The LIP is tax-free (but it must be reported with all of your income).
It is not subject to social levies (CSG, CRDS...).
It is non-transferrable (it is assigned to you personally and therefore cannot be assigned to another person).
It is cumulative with any income or social benefit.
FYI
in the event of death, the LIP continues to be paid to your Civil partnership or partner or, if not, to your minor children.
Between 2016 and 2021
You have the right to the benefit called new loyalty and recognition (new RCP) if you meet the following conditions:
- You're at least 55 years old
- You have completed at least 20 years of service (15 years if your operational disability has been medically recognised)
The new LIP is paid only once a year.
The amount of the new LIP differs depending on the number of years of service performed.
Number of years of service | Annual |
|---|---|
20 to 24 years of service | €1,024.95 |
25 to 29 years of service | €2,049.90 |
30 to 34 years of service | €2,690.50 |
35 years of service and more | €3,074.85 |
The new LIP is tax-free (but it must be reported with all of your income).
It is not subject to social levies (CSG, CRDS...).
It is non-transferrable (it is assigned to you personally and therefore cannot be assigned to another person).
It is cumulative with any income or social benefit.
Please note
in the event of death, the new LIP continues to be paid to your Civil partnership or partner or, if not, to your minor children.
Since 27 November 2021
You have the right to the benefit called new loyalty and recognition (new RCP) if you meet the following conditions:
- You're at least 55 years old
- You have completed at least 15 years of service (10 years if your operational disability has been medically recognised)
The new LIP is paid only once a year.
The amount of the new LIP differs depending on the number of years of service performed.
Number of years of service | Annual |
|---|---|
15 to 19 years | €512.50 |
20 to 24 years of service | €1,024.95 |
25 to 29 years of service | €2,049.90 |
30 to 34 years of service | €2,690.50 |
35 years of service and more | €3,074.85 |
The new LIP is tax-free (but it must be reported with all of your income).
It is not subject to social levies (CSG, CRDS...).
It is non-transferrable (it is assigned to you personally and therefore cannot be assigned to another person).
It is cumulative with any income or social benefit.
Please note
in the event of death, the new LIP continues to be paid to your Civil partnership or partner or, if not, to your minor children.
In the event of death on duty, your relatives may be entitled, under certain conditions, to a reversion allowance.
The Reversion Allowance shall be paid monthly to one of the following persons:
- Person you lived with as a couple
- Ex-spouse(s) not remarried, not married and not living together
- Child under 21 years of age or whatever the age of the child is with a disability
- Code for Internal Security: Articles L723-3 to L723-21Conditions of engagement
- Act No. 2021-1520 of November 25, 2021 to consolidate our civil safety model and enhance the volunteer work of professional firefighters and firefighters
- Act No. 91-1389 of 31 December 1991 on the social protection of volunteer fire-fighters in the event of an accident or illness contracted in serviceArticle 14
- Decree No. 2022-1116 of 4 August 2022 fixing the conditions for the award of the label "employer partner of the firefighters"
- Decree No. 2017-912 of May 9, 2017 on the various end-of-service benefits allocated to volunteer firefighters
- Decree No. 2012-492 of 16 April 2012 on the allowances of volunteer firefighters
- Decree No. 92-620 of 7 July 1992 on the social protection of volunteer fire-fighters in the event of an accident or illness contracted in service
- Order of 21 September 2022 fixing the amount of the new loyalty and recognition benefit for volunteer firefighters
- Order of 21 September 2022 fixing the amount of the basic hourly allowance for volunteer firefighters
- Decree of 22 August 2019 on the training of professional and voluntary firefighters
- Order of 6 June 2013 concerning the activities that may be carried out by volunteer fire-fighters
- Order of 6 May 2000 laying down the conditions of medical fitness for professional and voluntary firefighters
- Statement of 22 August 2019 on the Differentiated Engagement System for Volunteer Firefighters (PDF - 947.5 KB)
- Civic Service CommitmentService-Public.fr
- Firefighters’ Medal of HonourService-Public.fr
- The new VPS loyalty and recognition serviceFirefighters from France
- National Charter of the Volunteer FirefighterMinistry of the Interior
- Volunteer fire brigadeMinistry of the Interior
- Veterans or Loyalty AllocationFirefighters from France
- Performance loyalty recognition (PFR)Firefighters from France
- The compensation scheme for volunteer firefightersDeposit and deposit fund (CDC)