SOUTH LYNCHES FIRE DEPARTMENT
Document No.
Title
ADM-105.01
VOLUNTEER INCENTIVE PROGRAM
Approved:
March 26, 2013
I.
Supersedes:
January 30, 2001
SCOPE
This standard establishes guidelines for the administration of the Volunteer Incentive
Program.
II.
GENERAL
The Volunteer Incentive Program (VIP) is a South Carolina law, which allows qualifying
volunteer firefighters to file a $3000.00 tax deduction on their State Income Tax. A
qualifying volunteer firefighter is defined as a volunteer firefighter who earns a
MINIMUM OF 70 POINTS, according to the VIP Points System. This law was passed
as a means to reward volunteer firefighters for the service they render to their community
and the point system was constructed so that those individuals putting forth a good faith
effort should qualify.
This tax credit applies to ALL volunteer firefighters, therefore, if a Paid Firefighter
volunteers at another department, they are eligible for the credit from the department
where they volunteer. Also, if a husband and wife are both volunteer firefighters, they
are both eligible to receive the tax credit.
III.
POINTS SYSTEM
To qualify for the tax deduction, a volunteer member MUST EARN A MINIMUM OF
70 POINTS. These points are earned by several different methods.
A. TRAINING
A volunteer member may earn a MAXIMUM of 30 points for certain certifications that
he/she possesses. A valid certificate, transcript, or letter of certification, approved by the
Fire Chief, must be on file at the District Office for a volunteer member to receive points
for a certification. Points are awarded for the following certifications.
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AED Training
Auto Extrication Training
5 points
5 points
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
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
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

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Certified Instructor Training
Certified Inspector Training
Certified Interior Firefighter Training
Certified Public Education Training
Chart Reading Training
Commercial or Class E License
Emergency Vehicle Driver Training
EMT Basic
Haz-Mat Operations Training
Haz-Mat Specialist
EMT Intermediate
First Responder Training
Incident Command Training
Navigation Training
Officer Training
Paramedic Training
Pump Operations Training
Rural Water Supply Training
SCBA Training
Water Rescue Training
Haz-Mat Technician Training
5 points
5 points
10 points
5 points
5 points
5 points
5 points
10 points
10 points
10 Points
10 Points
5 Points
5 Points
5 Points
5 Points
10 Points
5 Points
5 Points
10 Points
5 Points
10 Points
To qualify for the 5 points for AED training, a volunteer must have documentation
certifying that the member has completed AED training from an approved provider.
To qualify for the 5 points for Auto Extrication training, a volunteer must have
documentation certifying that the member has completed an approved auto extrication
course.
To qualify for the 5 points for Instructor training, a volunteer must have documentation
certifying that the member has completed an approved instructor course.
To qualify for the 5 points for Inspector training, a volunteer must have documentation
certifying that the member has met the requirements set forth by the South Carolina State
Fire Marshal’s Office.
To qualify for the 10 points for Interior Structural Fire Fighting, a volunteer firefighter
must have documentation certifying that the firefighter has met the requirements of
Interior Structural Firefighter. This certification should meet the requirements of the S.C.
Fire Academy’s Interior Structural Firefighter curriculum, the Johnsonville Interior
Structural Firefighter Course, the IFSTA Essentials of Firefighting, or a course deemed
equivalent by the Fire Chief.
To qualify for the 5 points for Public Education training, a volunteer member must have
documentation certifying that the member has completed an approved course in public
fire education.
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To qualify for the 5 points for Chart Reading training, a volunteer member must have
documentation certifying that the member has completed an approved course in chart
reading.
To qualify for the 5 points for Class E Driver’s License, a volunteer member must have
documentation certifying that the firefighter possesses a valid S.C. Class E Driver’s
License. Other classes of S.C. Driver’s License that qualify for these points are CDL,
and Class F.
To qualify for the 5 points for Emergency Vehicle Driver, a volunteer member must have
documentation certifying that the firefighter has successfully completed the South
Lynches Fire Department Emergency Vehicle Operator Program, and is cleared to drive
the department’s fire/rescue apparatus. A firefighter also qualifies for these points if
he/she has documentation of the successful completion of an approved Emergency
Vehicle Driver Training course.
To qualify for the 10 points for EMT, a volunteer member must have documentation of a
CURRENT S.C. or National Registry EMT-Basic or EMT-Intermediate certification. If
the firefighter’s certificate expires, without the firefighter taking an approved
recertification course, the firefighter will no longer receive points in this category.
To qualify for the 10 points for Haz-Mat Operations training, a volunteer member must
have documentation certifying that the member has completed an approved course in
hazardous materials operations.
To qualify for the 10 points for Haz-Mat Specialist training, a volunteer member must
have documentation certifying that the member has completed an approved course in
hazardous materials specialist.
To qualify for the 5 points for First Responder, a volunteer member must have
documentation certifying that the firefighter has met the requirements of a First
Responder course that has been approved by the Fire Chief. A firefighter may also
receive points in this category if he/she has documentation of an expired EMT-Basic,
EMT-Intermediate, or EMT-Paramedic certification.
To qualify for the 5 points for Incident Command training, a volunteer member must
have documentation certifying that the firefighter has met the requirements of an
approved Incident Command course. This certification should meet the requirements of
the S.C. Fire Academy’s Incident Command curriculum, or a course deemed equivalent
by the Fire Chief.
To qualify for the 5 points for Navigation training, a volunteer member must have
documentation certifying that the member has completed an approved course in
navigation training.
To qualify for the 5 points for Fire Officer training, a volunteer member must have
documentation certifying that the firefighter has completed an approved officer level
course or a course deemed equivalent by the Fire Chief.
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To qualify for the 10 points for Paramedic, a volunteer member must have documentation
of a CURRENT S.C. or National Registry EMT-Paramedic certification. If the
firefighter’s certification expires, without the firefighter taking an approved
recertification course, the firefighter will no longer receive points in this category
To qualify for the 5 points for Pump Operations, a volunteer member must have
documentation certifying that the firefighter has met the requirements of an approved
Pump Operations course.
To qualify for the 5 points for Rural Water Supply, a volunteer member must have
documentation certifying that the firefighter has met the requirements of an approved
Rural Water Supply course.
To qualify for the 10 points for Self Contained Breathing Apparatus, a volunteer
member must have documentation certifying that the firefighter has met the requirements
of a course of training in which the proper use of Self Contained Breathing Apparatus
was part of the curriculum. This certification should, at a minimum, meet the
requirements of the S.C. Fire Academy’s Basic Firefighter curriculum, or a course
deemed equivalent by the Fire Chief. In addition, the volunteer firefighter must attend
the required monthly drill(s) on Self Contained Breathing Apparatus, and have
documentation of a current Air Mask Fit Test.
To qualify for the 5 points for Water Rescue training, a volunteer member must have
documentation certifying that the member has completed an approved water rescue
course.
To qualify for the 10 points for Haz-Mat Technician training, a volunteer member must
have documentation certifying that the member has completed an approved haz-mat
technician course.
**To qualify for points as an EMT, Paramedic, or First Responder, a volunteer member
must also have documentation of a CURRENT CPR certification.
B. Station Training/Meetings
A volunteer member may earn a MAXIMUM of 25 points for attending station drills
and meetings. All volunteer members are required to attend two drills per month
(except the month of December). This results in 23 required drills per year. A
percentage is calculated by dividing the number of drills/meetings that the member
attended through the course of the year by 23. Points are awarded, in the following
amounts, according to the member’s percentage of attendance.
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75% Attendance
50% Attendance
40% Attendance
30% Attendance
25 points
20 points
15 points
10 points
4
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20% Attendance
5 points
C. Call Volume – Volunteer Response
A volunteer member may earn a MAXIMUM of 50 points for responding to calls.
Volunteers are responsible for responding to any call assigned to their respective
station. In the case of calls which require multiple stations, the first due station is
assigned that call. All volunteers, who respond to these calls, receive credit for their
response, however only the first due station is charged or assigned to that call. A
percentage is calculated by dividing the number of calls that the member responds to,
by the total number of calls charged or assigned to their respective station. If a call is
cancelled prior to a member’s arrival, it is the responsibility of that member to see
that their name is put on the run sheet. If a run sheet is not turned in to the District
Office, the first due station will still be assigned to that call, but no one will get credit
for responding. A member will received credit for any call that he/she responds to,
even if the call is located outside of their respective station’s run area. Points are
awarded, in the following amounts, according to the member’s percentage of
response.
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50% Response
40% Response
30% Response
20% Response
50 points
40 points
30 points
20 points
D. Service to Department
A volunteer member may earn a MAXIMUM of 60 points for hours of service to the
department. Service to department includes, but is not limited to, washing apparatus,
cleaning the station, public education, maintenance, hose testing assistance,
cleaning/painting hydrants and water sources and washing hose.
A VIP Service to Department binder shall be located at each station. This binder
shall contain individual VIP Service to Department Forms for that calendar year. If a
member performs a service to the department, the date, service provided, and number
of hours worked should be filled out. The last column on this form is provided for the
signature of the station Captain or District Chief. Each service that the member
performs MUST be approved and signed by the Captain or District Chief. Service
performed by the District Chief, must be signed by the Captain. Service performed
by the Captain, must be signed by the District Chief. Members of the Department’s
Administrative Staff may also approve and sign the Service to Department forms for
members of any station. Any service that is not approved and signed by the
appropriate designee, will not be credited.
At the end of the calendar year, the binders will be collected, and points will be
awarded in the amount of 5 points, each time the member accumulates 20 hours
monthly, of service.
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E. Bonus Points
A volunteer member may earn a MAXIMUM of 20 points for completing training
programs, approved by the Fire Chief. A firefighter will receive 2 points, each time
he/she accumulates 16 hours of training in an approved course or program. In order
for the firefighter to receive points in this category, he/she must provide the District
Office with a copy of the certificate or sufficient documentation of completion.
Points in this category only apply to courses taken during the calendar year for which
the member is earning points towards qualification for the tax deduction.
IV.
FORMS
A.
Individual Certification Form
The Individual Certification Form is approved by the State Fire Marshal. This
form is provided to the department, by the South Carolina State Firemen’s
Association. A volunteer’s points, for each category shall be recorded and totaled
on this form. The form is then signed by the Fire Chief and sent to the volunteer
member, no later than January 31, of the following calendar year. A copy of this
form will also be retained by the District Office for records.
B. VIP Service to Department Form
The VIP Service to Department Form provides documentation of the hours that a
volunteer member works in serving the fire department above and beyond normal fire
fighting duties. These forms shall be located in a binder, designated for the VIP
Service to Department Form. The member should fill out the appropriate information,
including date, service performed, and hours served, on the form each time he/she
performs a service to the department. In addition, the member should have their
Captain or District Chief sign, in approval, for each service performed. At the end of
the calendar year, these forms will be collected and the total number of hours worked
and points earned will be tallied, and the form will be signed by the Personnel
Coordinator and the Fire Chief.
C. Fire Department Reporting Form
The Fire Department Reporting Form is used to report, to the S.C. State Firemen’s
Association, the names, social security numbers, and total number of points earned,
for each qualifying member. This form must be sent to the S.C. State Firemen’s
Association no later than March 31, of the following calendar year. The S.C. State
Firemen’s Association is then responsible for filing a statewide listing of all volunteer
firefighters who are qualified to receive the tax deduction with the State Department
of Revenue.
V.
FIRE CHIEF CERTIFICATION
The Chief of the Fire Department is the sole authority for the certification of the
volunteer member as it relates to the volunteer being qualified to receive the State Tax
Deduction under the Volunteer Incentive Program law. It is up to the Fire Chief to see
that those individuals meeting the standard receive the benefit.
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VI.
PORTABLE RADIOS & OFFICER POSITIONS
South Lynches Fire Department Officers and Members will be issued radios as outlined
in SOG COM-401.01. The guidelines for the issuance of portable radios are listed below.
Members – If a member falls within the guidelines to receive a portable radio as outlined
in SOG COM-401.01, they must continue to meet the 70 points required to qualify for the
VIP Program. If the member fails to meet the 70 points at the end of the year, they will
be allowed to maintain their portable radio for a six month period. Any member falling
below the 70 point minimum will have a note attached to their Individual VIP
Certification Form advising them that they have fallen below the 70 point minimum. The
member will have six months (date will be determined based on the mailing of the
certification form) to improve their point total back to the 70 point minimum or they will
be required to return their radio to the District Office.
Officers – If an Officer fails to meet the 70 points at the end of the year, they will be
allowed to maintain their portable radio and their officer position for a six month period.
Any Officer falling below the 70 point minimum will have a note attached to their
Individual VIP Certification Form advising them that they have fallen below the 70 point
minimum. The Officer will have six months (date will be determined based on the
mailing of the certification form) to improve their point total back to the 70 point
minimum or they will be required to return their radio to the District Office and they will
lose their officer position. If an Officer loses his position due to not meeting the 70 point
minimum, they will be assigned to a station as a firefighter, driver/operator, engineer,
first responder, or support personnel.
History:
January 30, 2001 - Amended to allow Administrative staff to approve and sign service to department forms.
Updated to match current VIP Forms and added Portable Radios & Officers.
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