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.
From showing appreciation to explaining the “why,” there are several ways to help minimize attrition rates at your department
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
The Myrtle Beach Fire Department swore in 18 new firefighters, bringing staffing above capacity as officials discuss a potential shift change aimed at easing stress and cutting overtime
The Winston-Salem city council approved a nearly $2 million compensation overhaul boosting salaries up to 9.5%
Hinckley Township officials approved higher wages and new hiring options as the department struggles to recruit and retain full-time firefighters amid regional shortages
Volunteer fire departments across Niagara County are opening their doors to attract new members as busy schedules, training demands and economic pressures shrink the volunteer pool
Dearborn Heights officials say the milestone could reduce overtime and ease strain on firefighters, though medical leaves and aging equipment still pose challenges
A new scholarship program will help Cuyahoga County students pursue police, fire and EMS training as agencies struggle with recruitment and retention
Survey responses reveal divide on industry culture, hiring standards and the future of operations
The International Association of Fire Chiefs is rolling out a campaign aimed at Gen Z and younger millennials as departments nationwide struggle to maintain volunteer staffing
Palmerdale Fire District joins the Retirement Systems of Alabama in a $1M effort to boost recruitment, retain staff and give firefighters the financial security long out of reach
Resignations often signal leadership disputes, safety concerns and unresolved conflicts — issues that often build long before members decide to walk away
MOST POPULAR
- 3 dead, others wounded in shooting at Wis. school
- FDNY commissioner resigns day after Zohran Mamdani mayoral win
- Mayday: Houston firefighter killed in collapse at commercial structure fire
- Pa. firefighter dies responding to structure fire
- Va. county bans FD from responding to calls, citing ‘operational deficiencies’