This document discusses how local governments can support volunteer fire departments. It notes that 95% of fires are handled on-scene or at the firehouse. Local support is needed due to challenges like understaffing, funding and valuing volunteers. True costs of no support include risks to lives, property and finances. The role of local leaders is outlined, including engaging with departments, including them in budgets and decision making, providing incentives and reducing fundraising burdens. Successful recruitment requires a three-tier approach along with treating every public interaction positively. Overall, the document advocates for partnership between local governments and volunteer fire departments to ensure adequate community fire protection.

1. EVERYTHING YOU
WANTED TO KNOW
ABOUT YOUR VFD–
BUT WERE AFRAID
TO ASK
Local Government’s Role in Sustaining
& Growing Your Volunteer Fire Department

3. FIRSTARRIVING.COM

4. SIZE-UP:
Burning Questions & Forecasts
PERFORMING THE 360:
What will the Market Bear?
INVESTIGATION:
True Costs of Not Supporting your VFD
TACTICS:
Local Government’s Role & Opportunities
AAR-All About Recruitment:
Expectations, Evaluation & Awareness
INITIAL REPORTS:

8. 95% OF THE
FIRES WE FIGHT ARE:
A. ON THE FIREGROUND
B. IN THE FIREHOUSE

9. FORECAST:
“As the Fire Department struggles
to be everything it once was to the
community, today’s volunteers
struggle to be everything
they once were to the
fire department.”
[2001]

10. FORECAST:
“The survival and success
of the volunteer fire service
relies on our ability to create
MORE opportunities
for MORE people to
volunteer LESS time!”
[2001]

11. FUN FACT:
“Nobody signs up to be a
Volunteer Firefighter
with aspirations of one day being
promoted to Bingo Chairman.
But somebody needs to be the
Bingo Chairman!”

12. THE C-WORD
OF THE
FIRE SERVICE…

13. Phoenix AZ Fire Chief Alan Brunacini
“Firefighters only
dislike two things:
Change…
and the way
things are!”

15. “If you don’t like change,
you are really going
to hate obsolescence.”

16. Change typically comes
in one of two forms:
EVOLUTION

17. Change typically comes
in one of two forms:
REVOLUTION

18. Change typically comes
in one of two forms:

19. DECISION TREE
“If your decision-making process doesn’t start
and end with ‘What’s right for the customer?’
– there’s a real good chance
you’re not making the
right decisions.”

21. If you’re not focused on
Recruitment & Retention…
What are you focused on?

22. PERFORMING
THE 360:
WHAT WILL THE MARKET BEAR?
Local Government’s Role in Sustaining
& Growing Your Volunteer Fire Department

23. Is it:
A Fire Department that also provides EMS? -OR-
An EMS Provider that occasionally goes to fires?

24. Is it a Fire Department or Fire Insurance?

25. What will the
market bear?

26. What will the market bear?
• A highly dedicated, loyal,
passionate, caring workforce
staffed by volunteers

27. What will the market bear?
• Lack of consistency
and continuity:
• Service Delivery
• Leadership

28. What will the market bear?
• WE can’t hide behind:
“We’re JUST Volunteers”
• YOU should never forget:
“We ARE Volunteers!”

29. What will the
market bear?
$15-20K

30. What will the market bear?
$600-800K $750K $250K

31. What will the market bear?
$600-800K $750K $250K
160,000
Pancake Breakfasts
83,333
Chicken BBQs
16,666
Raffle Tickets

32. MUNICIPAL DEPARTMENT HIGHWAY POLICE FIRE
Save lives  
Save tax dollars  
Provide volunteer labor 
Obligated to underwrite cost of service delivery X
What will the market bear?

33. What will the
market bear?

34. INVESTIGATION:
THE REAL COSTS
OF NOT
SUPPORTING
YOUR VFD
Local Government’s Role in Sustaining
& Growing Your Volunteer Fire Department

35. What are the true costs of your
volunteer fire department being:
• Under-staffed
• Under-funded
• Under-valued

36. Job
Family
Friends
Firehouse
Finances
What will the
market bear?

37. Peace at Home=Peace at the Firehouse
Integrate the Family

38. TACTICS:
LOCAL GOV
ROLE &
OPPORTUNITIES
Local Government’s Role in Sustaining
& Growing Your Volunteer Fire Department

39. • GET ENGAGED
• COMMUNICATE
• BE SUPPORTIVE
• BE REALISTIC IN YOUR EXPECTATIONS
• INVOLVE THEM IN YOUR
BUDGET PROCESS
• NEGOTIATE IN GOOD FAITH
• EXPECT ACCOUNTABILITY
FROM BOTH SIDES

40. TRULY PARTNER:
• BE INCLUSIVE
• EXPEDITE APPLICATION & ONBOARDING PROCESSES
• LEVERAGE NETWORKS TO SUPPORT VOLUNTEER
RECRUITMENT & SUPPORT
• CONNECT WITH YOUTH OPPORTUNITIES
• ADVOCATE FOR YOUR VFD

41. OPPORTUNITY TO OFFER:
• ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT
• GRANT WRITING SERVICES
• STRATEGIC PLANNING
SERVICES & SUPPORT
• LEADERSHIP TRAINING
• IN-HOUSE OR CONTRACTUAL
MARKETING SERVICES

42. OPPORTUNITY TO OFFER:
• RECOGNITION PROGRAMS
• TAX BREAKS
• DISCOUNTED SERVICES
• MUNICIPAL PASSES
• INCENTIVES FOR VOLUNTEERS
& THEIR FAMILIES
• LOSAP

43. • HELP THEM ADAPT AND FOCUS ON OUTCOMES
• ENCOURAGE YOUR VFD TO APPOINT
A LIAISON TO YOUR BOARD
• PARTICIPATE IN PUBLIC SAFETY/
EM COMMITTEE
• PRESENT SCHEDULED REPORTS
TO THE GOVERNING BODY
• INVOLVED IN DECISIONS AFFECTING PS
• NETWORK WITH TOWN SUPERVISOR/
MANAGER/MAYOR/BOARD CHAIR TO KEEP
LINES OF COMMUNICATIONS OPEN

44. • ENCOURAGE TRANSPARENCY AND
ACCEPTANCE OF CITIZEN AND GOV
INPUT INTO THE FIRE DEPARTMENT:
• HAVE AT LEAST ONE CITIZEN
MEMBER ON THE VFD’S BOARD
• HOLD CITIZEN’S FIRE ACADEMY TO
GROW ADVOCATES AND EDUCATE
THE PUBLIC ON WHAT VFD DOES
• IF ASKED, SHOW THE PUBLIC WHAT
THE NON-PROFIT’S FINANCES ARE
AND WHERE THEY ARE

45. REDUCE FUNDRAISING BURDEN:
• COST SHARING:
• LEVERAGE MUNICIPAL DISCOUNTS &
BULK PURCHASING AGREEMENTS
• FUEL
• EQUIPMENT
• EMPLOYEE BENEFITS & INCENTIVES
• EAP
• MEDICAL PHYSICALS
• HEALTH INSURANCE
• AD&D INSURANCE

46. REDUCE FUNDRAISING BURDEN:
• ENCOURAGE AND ALLOW MUNICIPAL
EMPLOYEES TO VOLUNTEER
• PARTNER/UNDERWRITE
RECRUITMENT CAMPAIGN
• DO WHAT YOU DO BEST
– OUTSOURCE THE REST

47. REDUCE FUNDRAISING BURDEN:
•FACILITATE CONSOLIDATION
•INCREASE FUNDING
•BEAR THE COSTS
OF THE ALTERNATIVES

48. AAR-ALL ABOUT
RECRUITMENT
Local Government’s Role in Sustaining
& Growing Your Volunteer Fire Department

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THREE TIER APPROACH
TO RECRUITMENT SUCCESS:

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52. TREAT EVERY PUBLIC INTERACTION:
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IT STARTS WITH AN ATTITUDE.

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