State Fire Marshal Calls Need for Volunteer Firefighters Critical,

Pushes 1-800-FIRELINE to Help Local Departments

Television public service announcements bolster recruitment  

Calling Ohio’s need for volunteer firefighters critical, Chief Deputy State Fire Marshal Terry Weber joined BST&G Fire Chief Bill Fling in promoting the state’s 1-800-FIRELINE recruitment effort.  Weber was in Sunbury today to report on the status of Ohio’s volunteer fire service and to promote 1-800-FIRELINE, a tool for recruiting firefighters.

“The volunteer fire department is a great American tradition,” said Weber.  “Today that tradition--a tradition that countless Ohioans rely on day and night--is in critical need of everyday heroes to carry it into the 21^st century.”

In May 1999, the Office of the State Fire Marshal received a report confirming what the volunteer fire service has been saying for some time—recruiting an adequate number volunteers is becoming increasingly more difficult.  From 1993 to 1997, the National Volunteer Fire Council and the US Fire Administration (under the Federal Emergency Management Association) held a series of workshops that included volunteer fire service members from every state. In their report, “Recruitment and Retention in the Volunteer Fire Service: Problems and Solutions (Final Report 1998),” virtually all attendees agreed that recruiting a strong workforce is more difficult now than 20 years ago.

The National Fire Protection Agency, which also worked on the report, estimated a nationwide decline in volunteers from 884,600 in 1983 to 815,500 in 1996.  Statistics on the exact number of active volunteer firefighters in Ohio are not available, but a review of new volunteers certified from 1993 (the earliest date available) to 1998 shows sporadic recruitment.  The numbers range from 2,051 in 1993 to 1,867 in 1998, with a high of 2,113 in 1997 and a low of 1,393 in 1996.

“The number of new volunteers entering the fire service has not increased with the need for those services,” said Weber.  “A steady increase in volunteers is necessary to provide round-the-clock coverage to a growing population.”  Weber cited several factors regarding recruitment and retention from the report that he believes are true in Ohio:

·        Changes in the family, including a more hectic pace, more multiple income families, members with multiple jobs and single parent families.

·        Changes in the workplace, including longer commutes, employer constraints and a move away from agricultural based employment.

·        Societal changes, including population shifts from smaller towns to urban centers, a more transient society resulting in a lack of community involvement and a decline in civic responsibility, inability to count on children of volunteers “following in their parents footsteps,” an aging community, and an inability of volunteers to afford housing in the areas they must serve.

In addition, these difficulties are occurring at a time when the fire service is experiencing greater demands, including:

·        Increased call volume—the NFPA reported a 60% increase in calls nationally, from nearly 11 million in 1983 to more than 17 million in 1996.

·        Wider roles and greater expectations of service including emergency medical response, hazardous materials response and non-fire issues such as responding to carbon monoxide alerts, or false alarms generated by automated alarm systems.

·        Additional departmental demands such as administrative paperwork and fund raising.

“The sense of pride and accomplishment that comes with being a volunteer firefighter is unparalleled,” said Chief Kling of the BST&G Fire District, which covers Berkshire and Trenton Townships, Sunbury and the Village of Glenn.  He also noted that the larger the pool of volunteers, the less likely that any will experience burnout.  

In an attempt to boost volunteer numbers, the Fire Marshal’s Office is promoting 1-800-FIRELINE.  The number is a joint effort with the National Volunteer Fire Council.  When someone in Ohio dials the number, it connects with the Office of the State Fire Marshal, which can then answer questions and direct the caller to the nearest volunteer department.  “Those individuals with questions on what being a volunteer firefighter involves can call 1-800-FIRELINE and be put in touch with a local source of information,” said Weber.

To promote 1-800-FIRELINE, the State Fire Marshal’s office has created a series of three public service announcements.  The 30 second television spots are being distributed to Ohio’s broadcast and cable outlets in early December.  Each spot combines text, video and music to encourage people to consider becoming a volunteer firefighter.

In addition to the public service announcements and staffing 1-800-FIRELINE, the Fire Marshal’s office initiated the Ohio Women Firefighters Committee in 1998.  This committee, made up primarily of women in the fire service, addresses issues of recruitment and retention as it pertains to women. Targeting women for the fire service doubles the pool of candidates for volunteer departments and opens the doors to a rewarding career for women.  Over the past year, the committee has sponsored several “Can You Take the Heat” programs.  These day-long programs offer selected women the opportunity to experience fire fighting first hand.  Exercises include search and rescue, the jaws of life, and knocking down a fire in the State Fire Academy’s burn building.

In addition, the Marshal’s office provides financial support to volunteer department through nearly $2 million in grants for training and equipment.

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