Recruitment and Retention
Recruitment and retention is one of the most critical topics in the fire service, particularly the volunteer fire service, which has long been seeking to attract and maintain members. The recruitment and retention resource page provides critical content to help fire departments manage their personnel, from articles that inform prospective members are life as a volunteer to podcasts about recruitment best practices to new techniques being used to encourage new members, and so much more.
HOW TO BECOME A FIREFIGHTER
Make a good impression and launch your firefighter career on the right foot with these tips for probationary firefighters
The firefighter’s written exam covers everything from a math skills review to a personality assessment
Firefighter salaries and benefits vary by location and rank.
A DAY IN THE LIFE
Part of building crew unity is taking the opportunity to have some fun, but there must be room for training – plus all those EMS calls
The engineer serves several roles, from equipment checks to throwing ladders, medic assists and more
The week starts with motivation, weaves through myriad activities, and concludes with a restorative weekend – and possibly some duty officer work
24 hours filled with constant alerts, plus meetings, training and little sleep
It’s one of the most challenging and rewarding jobs in the fire service
A Monday to Sunday breakdown of what’s it’s like to serve as a fire chief for a mid-size fire department
COMPLETE COVERAGE
Senate Bill 466, passed by the House, would allow job training credits to count toward Firefighter I Certification and grant EMS agencies a grace period for state reporting
High school girls in Jackson County will get hands-on experience in fire, EMS and police careers
As call volumes surge and volunteer numbers decline, rural Yolo County fire chiefs warn of a breaking point for their departments
Sacramento Fire Captain Keith Wade, once a TikTok skeptic, is now on a mission to show fire service leaders how the app’s reach could be the answer to staffing woes
Corpus Christi officials approved applying for a grant to help meet national staffing standards, but the required city match raises debate over potential tax increases or budget cuts
Facing a nationwide shortage of volunteer firefighters, departments like Botetourt County are using camps, community outreach and flexible roles to raise awareness and inspire new recruits
Led by Chief Brian Moya, the department’s streamlined lateral hiring process is bringing in trained firefighters and helping reduce staffing gaps
The Moores Mill Volunteer Fire Department has increased its number of volunteers and has more currently in training
Keene officials hoped a SAFER grant would fully cover hiring costs, but learned it will fund only 75% in year one
Tri-Township Fire & Rescue has fully staffed its Memphis fire station for the first time in decades, marking a major milestone in a long-term plan to improve response times
MOST POPULAR
- What Trump’s executive orders tell us about his public safety agenda
- N.Y. firefighter killed during 3-alarm fire identified
- Mo. first responders object to bill aiming to ban Chinese-made drones
- Conn. firefighter dies after being struck by piece of fire apparatus at house fire
- Medical plane with 6 aboard crashes in Philadelphia, setting homes ablaze