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
A 2024 study urged Shakopee to hire 25 full-time firefighters, captains and chiefs and open a second station, but city leaders have yet to act
Probationary Firefighter Sadia Williams, 21, graduated on Aug. 22 and was set to begin work at Engine Company 13
Lake County officials said the change will cut the average workweek to 42 hours and boost health, morale and staffing
Four teens sprang into action after spotting a garage fire on their way home from prom, helping a family evacuate safely and earning praise from local firefighters
Haverhill city councilors unanimously approved increasing the civil service age cap to expand the hiring pool and address staffing shortages
The tragic accident that killed Plainville Firefighter Raymond Moreau has sparked renewed focus on equipment safety, declining volunteer numbers and emerging health risks
Local leaders urged state lawmakers to invest in school-based training, public safety education and regional partnerships to attract the next generation of first responders
Under the new Public Safety Retention and Recruitment Act, Missouri firefighters, EMTs, police, and other first responders with six years of service can now receive full in-state tuition for degree programs related to public safety
Ally Galvin and Bill Kenyon join the Salisbury Fire Department with a passion for learning, service and community impact
Balancing high school, soccer and firefighter training, 17-year-old Lydia Kendziorski joined Beaver Township Fire as a cadet
MOST POPULAR
- Pa. firefighter dies responding to structure fire
- Va. county bans FD from responding to calls, citing ‘operational deficiencies’
- 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