When the Community Changes but the Firehouse Doesn't

 

When the Community Changes but the Firehouse Doesn’t

What adaptation, community change, and organizational fit may have to do with volunteer staffing struggles

Thomas Johnson, MPH, AEM

Originally posted Jun 11

∙

Preview

 

 

a building with a sign on it

Photo by tyler richardson on Unsplash

Another Piece of the Puzzle

In my last article, When Volunteer Capacity becomes a Capability Risk, I argued that strain in volunteer fire and EMS should not be treated as just a staffing problem. I said it looked more like a warning sign about local capability, long-term sustainability, and the assumptions emergency managers make about what communities can count on when something goes wrong.

The more I’ve sat with this concern, the more I’ve found myself asking another question. If staffing struggles are signaling something deeper, what exactly are they signaling?...

User's avatar

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

48th Annual Arizona State Fire School September 8-12, 2021

Image
    48th Annual ARIZONA STATE FIRE SCHOOL September 8 – 12, 2021   Arizona Fire Service personnel, it’s that time of year!   The Arizona State Fire School is back and  REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN!!   This year marks the  48th Annual Arizona State Fire School , which provides over 35 educational sessions from Basic Skills Training, Fire Prevention & Investigation, to Fire Leadership and is one of the best training experiences available at any venue in Arizona.   FYI –   IMPORTANT DATA UPDATE   The Arizona Center for Fire Service Excellence (AzCFSE) currently uses a database referred to as AzSTARS, which is used to track student records and course attendance. You will need an AzSTARS EIN number to register for Fire School courses. For those students with a number from our previous database (ERMA), you will continue to use that number to register for the State Fire School. If you do not know your EIN number from either the previous ERMA sy...
Read more

February 2024 Edition of the Risk Reduction Review

  The February 2024 Edition of the Risk Reduction Review is now available. I have included the link to the newsletter below along with a message describing what is included in this edition.  In the newsletter there is a link to the ICC Region I Radio Podcast. In this episode I sat down with FDNY Fire Commissioner Laura Kavanagh, diving deep into the critical issues surrounding fire safety, lithium-ion battery technology, and the rise of micromobility devices like e-bikes and e-scooters. In this discussion, Commissioner Kavanagh shares her journey to leading the nation's largest fire department, revealing a commitment to public service and safety. This episode sheds light on the unique challenges and strategies the FDNY employs to combat the risks associated with lithium-ion batteries, especially in the context of New York City's bustling urban environment. Learn about the regulatory measures in place, including the ban on non-UL certified devices and the push for new lice...
Read more

Updated Statewide PIO contact list and training information

  Just a quick note to share the latest contact list and training information.     1) 2025 Arizona First Responder PIO Roundtable.  DPS is proud to announce the second annual Arizona First Responder PIO Roundtable on January 23, 2025 from 8:00 - 4:00 at 2222 W. Encanto Blvd., Phoenix. PIOs and supervisors of PIOs from law enforcement agencies (from all levels - local, county, state, and federal), military, fire departments, and prosecutor offices.  This training will feature a morning session from the same speaker as last year, Steve Gregory, and an afternoon revolving around case studies and the lessons learned from those experiences as well as group conversation about what PIOs are currently seeing, changes PIOs have had to make recently, and trends PIOs are seeing right now.  Lunch will be included and space is limited.   To register  for this free event, please email AZDPS Public Information Supervisor, Sgt. Eric Andrews, at  ea...
Read more