News
NVFC Hosts Delegation from Finland
Four representatives from SPEK - The Finnish National Rescue Association and the Association of Finnish Local and Regional Authorities met with the NVFC on October 8. The delegation wanted to learn more about volunteer retention and recruitment challenges and solutions in the United States as well as the Fire Corps program, a federally-funded program administered jointly by the NVFC and the International Association of Fire Chiefs.
The more than five million residents of Finland are protected by a largely volunteer fire and emergency service force of more than 15,000 volunteer or paid-on-call firefighters. An additional 5,000 firefighters are career.
“Retention and recruitment issues in the volunteer fire service are a challenge faced by both the U.S. and Finland,” said Heather Schafer, NVFC Executive Director, who met with the delegation along with Sarah Lee, NVFC Deputy Director, Dave Finger, NVFC Director of Government Relations, and Melissa Speed, Director of Fire Corps. “Having this opportunity for our organizations to meet and discuss ways we are addressing these issues benefits both countries.”
In addition to the meeting, the NVFC helped the Finnish delegation schedule a ride-along with the District of Columbia Fire/EMS Department, a tour of the National Fire Academy (NFA) in Emmitsburg, MD, a meeting with NFA Superintendent Denis Onieal, and a tour of the Vigilant Hose Company, a fully volunteer department also located in Emmitsburg. The delegation concluded their visit to the U.S. with a trip to New York City.
Search
Kimberly Ettinger
Director of Communications
202-887-5700 ext. 19
David Finger
Director of Government Relations
202-887-5700 ext. 12