Make a Donation
Secure payments via Stripe or e-Transfer directly to our WIFR account. Tax receipt available on request.
Why Your Donation Matters
As a fully volunteer fire and rescue department, we rely on community generosity to acquire and maintain the equipment, gear, and training that keeps our volunteers — and your family — safe.
All funds go directly to operational needs. No administration overhead. Just community helping community.
- Replacement of aging firefighting gear and PPE
- Medical response supplies and defibrillators
- Specialized training and certification programs
- Shore based rescue equipment for island safety
- Fire prevention education in local schools
Send directly to donations@wifr.ca
Please include your name for a receipt.
Why We Need Your Support
Being a volunteer fire department on an island comes with unique challenges that make community funding essential — not optional.
Island Isolation
Wolfe Island has no permanent bridge to the mainland. When an emergency happens, mutual aid from Kingston or other departments can take 30–45 minutes by ferry. Our volunteers must be fully equipped and trained to handle any situation entirely on their own until help arrives.
Building on Municipal Support
While the Township provides essential funding for our operations and apparatus, the demands of modern emergency response go beyond what municipal budgets can fully support. Community donations give us the flexibility to invest in critical equipment, training, and enhancements, ensuring we are always ready to serve when it matters most.
Gear Has a Lifespan
Turnout gear — the protective suits our volunteers wear into burning buildings — has a mandatory 10-year service life. Replacing a full set costs $3,000–$5,000 per firefighter. With ~30 volunteers, keeping everyone in safe, certified gear is an ongoing and significant expense.
Training Costs Are Real
Volunteer firefighters must complete the same certifications as career firefighters. This means courses, travel to mainland training facilities, and time away from work — all unpaid. Your donations help cover certification costs so our volunteers can train without financial hardship.
Medical First Response Gap
When someone on Wolfe Island has a heart attack or serious injury, EMS must cross by ferry from Kingston. WIFR volunteers are often the only trained first responders on scene for 20+ minutes. Keeping our medical bags stocked and our AEDs maintained is literally life-saving.
100% Volunteer, 100% Community
Every person on our crew gives their time for free — nights, weekends, holidays. The least the community can do is ensure they have the tools they need to do it safely. Your donation is a direct investment in the people who answer the call when your neighbours need help most.
Ready to make a difference?
Make a Donation →
