It's funny, I live in NYC, so we have paid first responders, but 20 years ago, I lived on Long Island. I looked into joining the local department when I moved out there

I was told that before I could join, even as a probie, I had to live in the town a minimum of 12 months. Then I had to do fire school, and 6 months of "cleaning amd maintainence of the building" before I would be allowed to go on my first run.. At which point I stood up, told the cheif where he could stick his hose nozzle, and left