Volunteer Firefighting Recruitment and Retention

  

  

  

Despite incentives like free college tuition, volunteer recruitment has struggled; many chiefs blame state-mandated 166 hours of training  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

Membership returns to pre-9/11 level  

Water service, volunteer recruitment also rank among top concerns  

What are the alternatives if you are unsuccessful in your SAFER funding request? Now, I don't want to discourage any of you from applying for SAFER funding but I do think that it might be wise to identify a "Plan B" or "what if we don't get funded" plan to increase or maintain your staffing levels.  

  

  

Volunteers at the Syosset firehouse are earning their stripes at an older age; they are a welcome addition with recruitment down  

  

  

I've responded to many threads on this site, but I've never actually started one. I have put a lot of effort into keeping my volunteer company healthy and active, and have come up with some of the things people dothat seem to be aimed at trying to intentionally kill a volunteer company.(  

(NOTE: Two weeks ago I posted the 13 ways to kill a Volunteer Department. Bonnie sent me this response, and I loved the positive response and positive attitude. So here's a few words from the other side. -JZ)  

As I sit here in the cold, rainy, unpredictable weather of Connecticut, I cannot help but look forward to the next ‘Cruisin for Solutions’… We had a great week of fun and sun, oh yeah, and we learned quite a bit from each other.  

Over the past two weeks we have discussed the importance of good management, and the qualities that make a good officer. This week I will look at how to actually get that ‘good’ officer into the position.  

There comes a time in each department when for one reason or another they would be better off without Joe Blow. While some may think it is impossible, you can fire a volunteer. It is also possible to turn down an application, but both firing and hiring are sensitive issues.  

The career fire service in America is comprised of approximately 350,000 fire fighters. The volunteer fire service numbers over 800,000.   

It is natural throughout our time as volunteers to phase in and out of the department. As our family and work schedules change, our time commitments change.   

Most departments consider finding new members a challenge, when the real challenge is in turning these new members into productive, lifelong members.  

Nice Job. Good Work. Well Done. It is amazing how much two words can say, and it is even more remarkable how rarely any of these phrases are used.   

Over the past year I have talked quite a bit about making your department better. By improving the environment in your department, you have now prepared it to receive new members. Creating a receptive and positive environment is key before you do any type of recruitment.  

  

Everyone joins volunteer departments for different reasons, but if we did it for the money, we would be career firefighters. So why do volunteers volunteer?  

What personal characteristics are most important for success as a firefighter? Integrity, dedication and tolerance all made the list. You may be surprised at what didn't.  

You should already know it is a must to visit fire stations in the department you are testing for. What you may not realize is that this station visit can hurt your chances of getting hired as much as it helps, depending on how you conduct and represent yourself.  

Being a firefighter is not easy and neither is the process of becoming a firefighter. More than 70% of applicants don't succeed. Here are 10 must-do things every firefighter candidate should be doing to increase their odds of getting hired by showing their interest and dedication in advance.