Overview of the Recruitment and Retention Issues in the Modern Fire Service Keeping tradition and promoting progress. New Hampshire Municipal Association Annual Conference November 13, 2014 — Manchester, NH Scott Symonds, Firefighter/Paramedic Next Generation Leadership & Training 131 Hunt Road, Suite A — Peterborough, NH

Overview Fire Service Overview Fire Service Overview Fire Service Culture Fire Service Culture Defining the problem Defining the problem Possible solutions Possible solutions

Fire Service Overview Understanding the fire service history. Understanding the fire service history. Where the firefighters came from. Where the firefighters came from. Developing tactics and procedures. Developing tactics and procedures. Establishing a service-based mindset. Establishing a service-based mindset.

Fire Service History Initially private agencies established by insurance companies. Initially private agencies established by insurance companies. Strong family lineage. Strong family lineage. Stronger in urban centers. Stronger in urban centers. Heavy “trade” knowledge. Heavy “trade” knowledge. Often military veteran saturated. Often military veteran saturated. Considered a blue collar job. Considered a blue collar job.

Fire Service History Predominantly male. Predominantly male. Strictly response based. Strictly response based. Provided limited service. Provided limited service. Not as heavily relied upon. Not as heavily relied upon. Social club status. Social club status. Family tradition. Family tradition. Iron Firemen and Wooden Ladders. Iron Firemen and Wooden Ladders.

Current Fire Service Expanded knowledge base & technical ability. Expanded knowledge base & technical ability. Outlined curriculum for fire & EMS. Outlined curriculum for fire & EMS. Extensive certification/recertification process. Extensive certification/recertification process. EMS becoming dominant field. EMS becoming dominant field. Increased community coverage. Increased community coverage. Expanded community involvement. Expanded community involvement. Increased technical needs. Increased technical needs.

Current Fire Service Financial involvement Financial involvement - Liability - Funding for operations - Limited tax base - Cost of coverage - Increased “cost of doing business”

Fire Service Culture In-it-for-life mindset. In-it-for-life mindset. Diverse views. Diverse views. The lunch table The lunch table Dayroom politics Dayroom politics A core group A core group Human dynamics Human dynamics Socio-economic status Socio-economic status

Social Issues Time Management Time Management Generational Differences. Generational Differences. Fire Department Culture. Fire Department Culture. Employment matters. Employment matters. Changes in family make-up. Changes in family make-up. Changes in education. Changes in education. Focus on fun. Focus on fun.

Define the Issue Define what you will provide for service. Define the agency role in your community. Identify volume and model comparison. Evaluate community support. Does your infrastructure support it?

The BIG Picture

Identifying Solutions Recruitment Retain/Retrain/Reorganize Regionalization Develop social media campaign Expand “mutual aid” concepts FEMA Grant programs Fire CORPS programs Tuition assistance programs Flexible staffing models Combination agencies Privatization Program closure