Invest in recruitment and retention initiatives and incentives to address the shortage of firefighters and make the fire service more diverse and inclusive.
Issue
In recent years there has been a steady decline in the number of firefighters in the nation. This decline is impacting all department types, leaving the communities they serve vulnerable to threats, and increasing the stresses among firefighters and municipalities. It is imperative that we invest in programs and initiatives to incentivize individuals to join volunteer, combination, and career fire departments.
State of Science
In the News
Resources
State of Science
- NFPA: Fifth Needs Assessment of the US Fire Service: Staffing & Operations (December 2021)
- NFPA: US Fire Department Profile 2019 (December 2021)
- NVFC: Volunteer Retention Research Report
- IAFC: Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in the US Volunteer and Combination Fire-rescue Service
In the News
Resources
- NVFC: Volunteer Fire Service Recruitment Resources
- IAFF: Recruiting Diverse First Responders Toolkit
- USFA: Retention and Recruitment for the Volunteer Emergency Services (May 2023)
- U.S. Department of Labor: Apprenticeship.Gov; Employment and Training Administration
- IAFC: Recruitment and Retention Kit
- IAFF: Recruiting Diverse First Responders Tool Kit
- NVFC: Recruitment and Retention Planning and Funding
- NVFC: Make Me a Firefighter Program
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