Thank Your Volunteers on Volunteer Firefighters Recognition Day

August 11, 2026

August 18 is Volunteer Firefighters Recognition Day, and the NVFC thanks all of the fire service volunteers who selflessly give back to their communities and provide life-saving services every day. Your department can utilize August 18 to show your volunteer firefighters how much they mean to your community. Here are some ideas to help get started:

  • Put out a press release in your community letting the public know about all the good work your volunteer firefighters do for their neighbors.
  • Post on social media about the recognition day and all the good work your volunteers are doing. Some example posts are as follows:

Option 1:
Today is Volunteer Firefighters Recognition Day! 🚒

We’re proud to recognize the dedicated volunteers who serve our community with professionalism, courage, and compassion. Thank you for your countless hours of training, emergency response, and commitment to keeping our neighbors safe.

Please join us in thanking our volunteer firefighters today!

Option 2:
It’s Volunteer Firefighters Recognition Day, and we’d like to recognize the incredible volunteers who answer the call whenever our community needs them.

Thank you for your service, your sacrifice, and your unwavering dedication. We couldn’t do it without you.

Option 3:
Today we’re celebrating #VolunteerFirefightersRecognitionDay!

Help us recognize the volunteers who protect our community by leaving a thank-you message in the comments. Your support means a great deal to the firefighters who give their time to serve others.

  • Give handwritten thank you notes to your volunteer firefighters recognizing their hard work and showing appreciation for all they do for the department and community.
  • Encourage the community to send thank you notes to your volunteer firefighters.
  • Prepare a short video montage celebrating the accomplishments of your volunteer firefighters, including people they have helped expressing gratitude and how they impacted their lives.
  • Host a recognition meal or event in honor of your volunteer firefighters.
  • Give your volunteer firefighters a token of appreciation, such as a gift card, a gift certificate to a local restaurant, tickets to a local event, or take them out for ice cream.
  • Ask the appropriate local government official to issue a proclamation recognizing Volunteer Firefighters Recognition Day on August 18.
  • Take a moment at your next department-wide meeting to acknowledge the recognition day, personally thank your volunteer firefighters for all they do, and emphasize how much they mean to the community.