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Volunteer Fire Chief Recruiting and Retention

Recruiting and Retention in the Volunteer Fire Service

Numerous studies from various organizations record the substantial decrease in volunteerism.  The volunteer fire service is no exception to this downward trend.  Through this study, we will try to determine why people volunteer in the fire service, methods that work in recruiting, and also methods for retaining membership. Through this study, we are trying to determine what are the most effective methods for recruiting and retaining volunteer firefighters.
Although the survey can be completed anonymously, as an incentive for completing the survey, three randomly selected firefighters will receive a $250 gift certificate to The FireStore (http://www.thefirestore.com/), and the department with the highest percentage of members responding, will receive a $500 gift certificate to The Firestore. The survey will be open until August 31, 2016.  Results of this study will be formulated into a paper for publication.
There are 54 questions that will take you 10-20 minutes to answer.  The survey must be completed in its entirety to be eligible for prizes.
1.Is your fire department?
2.Is your fire department?
3.What year was your department first formed?
4.Has your fire department ever been part of a merger or consolidation?
5.How many fire department were part of the merger or consolidation?
6.What year did the merger or consolidation take place?
7.In what State is your fire department located?
8.In what County is your fire department located?
9.What is the total population served by your fire department?
10.Approximately what percentage of your fire department coverage area is rural?
11.Approximately what percentage of your fire department coverage area is urban?
12.Approximately what percentage of your fire department coverage area is suburban?
13.What percentage of your fire department calls are emergencies?
14.What percentage of your fire department calls are non-emergencies?
15.What percentage of your fire department calls are emergency medical service?
16.How many stations are part of your fire department?
17.What is your age?
18.What is your gender
19.How old were you when you joined the fire service?
20.What is the highest level of education you achieved?
21.What is the status of your employment? You may select all that apply
22.What category best describes your primary employment?
23.How many years have you been in the fire service?
24.Please rate how frequently your fire department responds to the following types of calls per month.
0-1
2-5
6-9
10+
House Fires
Other structural fires
Grass/wildland fires
Auto accidents
Medical emergencies
Automatic fire alarms
Carbon Monoxide alarms
Vehicle fires
electrical or utility problems
Mutual aid
Other types of emergencies
25.What is the approximately number of calls your fire department responds to each year?
26.What is the approximate number of active members in your department?
27.How do you define active member status?
28.Have there ever been times when your department did not have enough members to respond to a call?
29.If you answered yes to Question 28, how many times per month would you say this happens?
30.If you do not believe you have enough volunteer  to provide service 365 days a year, and 24 hours a day, approximately how many more do you believe you need?
31.Do you consider yourself to be an active member?
32.Of your department's calls, what percentage of emergency calls do you respond to annually?
33.Of your department's calls, what percentage of non-emergency calls do you respond to annually?
34.Of the members of your department, what percentage do you consider to be active volunteers?
35.Have you ever considered no longer serving as a volunteer firefighter?
36.If you answered Yes to Question 35, please briefly explain why you have considered no longer being a volunteer firefighter
37.How many certifications and certificates do you have, such as EMT, FF I, vehicle rescue, water rescue, etc.?
38.How many hours do you spend each month doing fundraising?
39.How many hours of in-house training do you personally complete each year?
40.How many hours of outside training do you personally complete each year?
41.Do you see a lot of turnover in your department?
42.If you answered yes to question 41, how many volunteers leave annually?
43.Since you have been a member of your department have you:
44.In the past five years, approximately how many volunteers each year have joined your department and left within the first year?
45.To what extent is it likely that your department may go "Out of business" in the near future? (next five years)
46.Has your fire department ever considered consolidating or merging with other departments?
47.To what degree do the following issues contribute to turnover in your department?
Very often
Often
Not often
Not applicable
Federal mandates
State mandates
Boredom
Time commitment
Threat of injury or death
Danger
Issues related to training (hours, costs, etc.)
Personality conflicts
Age or health concerns
Other (Worker's comp concerns, family/social activities, etc.)
48.To what degree do you believe the following would decrease turnover in your department?
A lot
Some
None
Pension
Annual tax credit
Recognition
Less Training
More training
Online Training opportunties
Health club membership
No fundraising
49.Please indicate the degree to which you believe the following things are needed for your department?
Yes 
No
Not applicable or already doing
Increased funding
Total government funding
More calls
Less calls
Paid administrative assistance
More government involvement
Less government involvement
Discipline specific training
Online training
Other training
New ways of organizing
More volunteers
Other
50.How did you first gain your interest in the volunteer fire service?
51.How often do you use the following methods of recruitment?
Very often
Often
Rarely
Never
Newspaper
Churches
Word of Mouth
Fraternal Organizations
Family
Friends
Community Events
Fire Department recruiting events
Other clubs/organizations
During fire calls
52.If you want to be considered for a personal prize enter your email address in the below box
53.If you want your fire department to be eligible for the fire department prize, please enter the following information in the box below: Fire Department name, Contact info for Fire Department (address and phone number or email address), number of active members in the department.