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.
A renewed focus on people, community connections and clear communication can help rebuild the recruitment pipeline
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
FireRescue1 invites you to share your voice — incidents that changed you, personal stories of challenges and perseverance, and other unique reflections
Line officers stepping into administrative roles face a culture shock — and a steep learning curve — that rarely gets addressed
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
House Bill 4936 would amend state law to reduce the minimum age from 21 and expand eligibility for older first-time applicants
The Mountain Lake Fire Company says staffing shortages and an ongoing conflict with Liberty Township officials left the department unable to respond to a call for the first time
FASNY officials say New York has lost a third of its volunteer firefighters in the past two decades, prompting the association to roll out a volunteer optimization legislative initiative
“Yes, sir,” the Smith County rookie politely responded before pulling himself out of the hole
After town leaders warned the Pemberton Volunteer Fire Department could shut down, residents and neighboring firefighters quickly stepped up
Traverse City Fire Department leaders say hiring and training challenges mean the department may not be ready to become the city’s primary ambulance transport provider by July 2026
Five recommendations to address the evolving needs of our newest workforce
Pasco County leaders say the move will improve recovery time, mental wellness and work-life balance, while supporting recruitment and retention as overtime hours trend down
Rural crews in Buchanan County are juggling growing emergency demand, fewer available responders and limited funding
These practical leadership habits will strengthen skills, trust and belonging
MOST POPULAR
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