Retention & Recruitment

• Guides and Resources
• Public Service Announcements
• Podcasts
• Sample Ads

Guides and Resources

• Retention and Recruitment for the Volunteer Emergency Services: Challenges and Solutions (Second Edition)
  The NVFC, in partnership with the U.S. Fire Administration, has released an in-depth guide on two of the biggest challenges facing the volunteer fire and emergency services – retention and recruitment. This guide addresses the primary challenges departments face regarding retention and recruitment and then outlines proven solutions to overcome these obstacles. This valuable resource is designed for all volunteer and combination departments who are experiencing retention and recruitment challenges.
• 1-800-FIRE-LINE, A National Recruitment Campaign
• New Tools
  New Tools contains recruitment press releases and camera ready artwork for print in local newspapers.
• The Everchanging Challenges of Recruitment and Retention in the 21st Century: A Brief Look at Where We've Been, Where We Are, and Where We Are Heading, By Eric Germaine of the Carver (MA) Fire Department, December 2007 
• Recruitment & Retention of the Volunteer: The Missing Piece of the Fire Service, Prepared by: Franklin Woodrow Wilson II, Lieutenant, Central Kitsap Fire & Rescue, August 2002
• Firefighters Turn to Silver Screen to Draw Recruits

Public Service Announcements (PSAs)

Link to these PSAs from your department's web site or contact your local radio or television and cable stations to air the PSAs. Unlike advertisements, many local radio and television stations and cable networks will donate the air time for showing PSAs, reducing or eliminating the cost to your department. You can use the PSAs as is or you can customize them to include your department’s name and contact information.

• Video PSA featuring Brian Williams - Fire Corps
  NBC newscaster Brian Williams recorded this video public service announcement you can use in your community to target potential Fire Corps volunteers and garner support for your local Fire Corps program. Fire Corps members assist departments with non-emergency tasks, helping departments to increase their capacity and services while allowing first responders to focus on training and emergency response.
  MPG Format (3MB)
• Radio PSA featuring Erron Kinney - 1-800-FIRE-LINE
  Firefighter and former NFL player Erron Kinney recorded this radio PSA alerting the public to the 1-800-FIRE-LINE number that anyone can call from anywhere in the country to learn about volunteer emergency and non-emergency opportunities available near them.
  MP3 Format
• Radio PSA featuring Erron Kinney - Fire Corps
  Firefighter and former NFL player Erron Kinney recorded this radio PSA focusing on the need for community members to play a role in the non-emergency functions of their fire/EMS department through Fire Corps.
  WAV Format

Podcasts

• Junior Firefighter Programs
  Youth programs are critical to the long-term health of the fire service. This podcast offer insights and best practices for establishing and managing a local youth program within a department. It can be used as a resource for departments who are thinking of establishing a youth program as well as those who already have a program in place. Join Heather Schafer, Executive Director of the NVFC; Jim Williams, NVFC’s New York Director; Jeff Cash, NVFC’s North Carolina Director and Fire Chief of the Cherryville Fire Department; Allen Metheny, NVFC’s Alternate Director from Delaware and Past Chief and Past President of the Hartly Volunteer Fire Company; and Mike Barnett of the Elkridge (MD) Volunteer Fire Department as they introduce the National Junior Firefighter Program and discuss best practices for local programs.
  MP3 Format
• Retention and Recruitment
  Join Dr. William Jenaway as he moderates a discussion into the key findings of a new U.S. Fire Administration/NVFC retention and recruitment study, solutions to some of the retention and recruitment obstacles, and the overriding concept of leadership. Philip C. Stittleburg, Chairman of the NVFC and Wisconsin Director; Jack Carriger, Second Vice Chairman of the NVFC and Oregon Director; and E. James Monihan, past Chairman of the NVFC and current Delaware Director, discuss some of the best practices they are seeing in their states to address the retention and recruitment challenges as well as how leadership plays an important factor in the solution.
  MP3 Format

Sample Ads

• Example Recruitment Ads from the Oregon Volunteer Firefighters Association

The Oregon Volunteer Firefighters Association (OVFA) has created several public service announcements (PSAs) that promote recruitment for their state's fire departments. Use these as examples of what your state association or department may consider developing. Once you have a PSA, you can post it on your association or department's web site as well as run them on TV. Talk to your local television stations or cable providers about the possibility of running your public service announcement without charge.

• OVFA Recruitment Ad 1
• OVFA Recruitment Ad 2
• OVFA Recruitment Ad with Fire Prevention Message – Candle
• OVFA Recruitment Ad with Fire Prevention Message – Cooking 1

• Example Recruitment Ad from Jackson County (Oregon) Fire District No. 3

Resources

• Resource Center
• Grants & Funding
• Regulations & Standards
• Retention & Recruitment
• Discover 1-800-FIRE-LINE
• "Silver Screen" Recruitment Idea
• Retention & Recruitment Guide
• Capitol Hill Connection
• Training & Education
• State Benefits Guide
• In the Line of Duty
• NVFC Heart-Healthy Firefighter
• Fire Corps
• Cost Savings Calculators
• Resources for Families
• Resources for Departments and Personnel
• Emergency Vehicle Safe Operations

Search