One data point in the recently published What Firefighters Want in 2025 industry report caught my attention. When asked whether coworkers sometimes reject others for being different, 47% of respondents agreed, while half of respondents disagreed with the statement.
There is nothing to directly compare this result, so it’s hard to say whether a survey done 10 or 20 years ago would have had a different outcome. Still, it’s worth considering what this means and what might be done to change things in the future.
| RESOURCE: What Firefighters Want in 2025
People naturally gravitate toward those who are like them, which makes it easier to find common ground. Of course, every firefighter is different, and this can be a source of conflict or alienation. But most members take pride in putting mission first and prioritizing the team ahead of individuals, at least when it comes to emergency response.
The differences among members of a group can be a source of strength but may also lead to feelings of exclusion and misunderstanding. It is critical in any functional team for members to know one another beyond superficial impressions, and this can only happen when people spend unprogrammed time together just hanging out. It seems like this kind of time is less abundant in fire stations these days.
Personal tech’s impact on fire service culture
I have to wonder what role technology plays in the survey findings. When I first came on the job, my captain told me, “If you find yourself alone, start worrying.” There was an implicit understanding that crewmembers did things together, whether it was station chores, studying for an upcoming exam, eating meals or watching TV at night. But when I talk with firefighters currently on the job, many say this is no longer the norm. Crews work well together when there is work to be done, but the minute formal work is over, people scatter to their own corners with their own devices, and that’s it for the rest of the day, unless another emergency call comes in.
In the era before personal devices — or even station computers — such fragmentation was not nearly as possible or likely. There were always some members who wanted to go off by themselves during station downtime, maybe to read a book, make a phone call or just spend time alone. But for the most part, people hung out together, and this was just considered part of the job. You didn’t necessarily get to choose the movie that was playing on TV or the snack that was cooked up (although popcorn was a universal favorite). People hung out together, made jokes, told stories and got to know one another, and this developed a sense of community. For some, this community was deep and lasting and for others it might have been more expedient. But any kind of community matters.
Most (not all!) people back then understood on some level that getting along was part of the job. It was something that you were expected to do, and it enhanced not only your experience but the workplace as a whole. Perhaps less emphasis is put on that kind of in-person connection these days when everyone from preschoolers to senior citizens are captivated by their phones and devices that seem to offer them a window into every world and provide a sense of virtual community that requires very little effort on their part.
But something is lost when everyone is in their own space, glued to a screen. And that may be reflected in the What Firefighters Want data point.
Where do we go from here?
What can be done to change this reality? Everyone should be aware of the effect of technology culture in the workplace. However, the greatest responsibility falls to the company officer to make any kind of move away from that as a norm. Yet, officers may be the first ones to lock themselves in their office with a personal device every evening.
So, company officers, consider this instead. Check out the streaming options and pick a movie that is stupid and laughable — “Mars Attacks!” was one of our favorites back in the day — and invite your coworkers to watch with you, plus that big bowl of popcorn. They may be hesitant at first, especially if this is not something that has often happened among the crew before. Be patient. Eventually, some will come out, grab a handful of popcorn and lean over the back of a chair, laughing at a stupid joke. Then another one or two may join you, and the next thing you know, you’re sitting there for an hour, and the engineer is doing a very credible imitation of how the Martians talk.
Another option: If your crew normally brings their own food to the station, try announcing that next shift you will make your world-famous lasagna and everyone is invited to share.
Or make a point to converse one-on-one with every person you work with, getting to know something about their lives and interests beyond the fire station.
Bottom line: Change starts with you.
Nurturing fire service camaraderie
The fire service has been called a brotherhood, a family, a community — whatever description you use — and that sense of common bond beyond just working together on an emergency scene is critical for building a positive and inclusive culture and creating the highest performing team. Everyone can and should contribute to building this kind of inclusive culture. Leaders can show the way through the actions they take and demonstrate their commitment to a workplace that clearly includes and values every member.
Does your crew bond together or go their separate ways after a call? Share your firehouse experience below:
| WATCH : Gordon Graham on the importance of firehouse meals
