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
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
The Sublette Fire Department is launching the second year of its hands-on cadet training program for teens ages 15 to 19
Clovis officials say a SAFER grant will help fund six new firefighter positions starting in March
All eight members of Roanoke Fire-EMS Recruit Academy 25-2 entered with EMS certifications, allowing an abbreviated 17-week academy ahead of expected retirements
City officials say the latest graduating class brings Troy’s fire force to full capacity, with continued investments in training
From Stewartville to St. Charles, families are carrying on decades-long traditions of volunteer firefighting as departments rely on generational service
Utica Township Fire Protection District leaders told county commissioners the department has grown its volunteer ranks, improved training and is on track to be fully operational by 2026
Timothy Bertz realized his dream of becoming a St. Paul firefighter days before a sudden medical event took his life
MOST POPULAR
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