Retention & Recruitment

Items on this page;

How do I become a fire fighter in Minnesota?
Is there a mandatory age for retirement?
Examples of Work That Firefighters Perform
What is a career fire fighter? Do volunteer fire fighters get paid?
How can I become qualified to fight forest fires?
How many fire departments are there in Minnesota?
Retention & Recruitment

Link to MN Fire Departments with websites: http://msvfa.org/links_mn_fd.html

If your home were to start on fire today who would put out that fire?

Your Fire Department Needs You

If your home were to start on fire today who would put out that fire? For a vast majority of America the people who will put out that fire will be volunteers. The men and women responding will be the same people who are also your business owners, doctors, lawyers, contractors, plumbers and bank tellers. According to the National Volunteer Fire Council (www.nfvc.org) in the United States there are just over 30,000 fire departments. Only 2,000 of these departments have a 100% full time paid staff. The remaining 28,000 fill their ranks with citizens donating their time. Unfortunately the number of people willing and/or able to join the local fire department is diminishing. In 1984 there were almost 900,000 individuals in the volunteer fire service. Today that number is dipping below 800,000 individuals. Yet suburban communities (who typically can not afford full time fire protection) continue to grow.

There are a number of reasons that can account for the drop in memberships. Training standards have become stricter. As such more time doing training drills and gaining certifications is needed. More households are either dual income or single parent families. For many of these families child care is difficult enough with out adding all the unknowns associated with fire/emergency calls. Additionally the recruitment techniques used by the fire service can be lacking. Many departments only recruit new members by word of mouth. Person interested in joining may never be able to if they do not know a current member on a personal basis.

There are many reasons why a person should join their local fire service.

Community service, this idea may seem generic and idealistic but think of it this way. When you make a donation of money, you do not truly see the good that donation does. When you donate your time in the fire service you will see, first hand, the good your donation of time brings. That leads right into the next reason to join, self esteem. People in the Fire service know they are unique and special, respected as heroes by all. This esteem and the training bolsters an individual?s leadership potential, making them more marketable for promotions in their regular career environments. The fire service can also improve your health. The work and training does require some physical exertion. Many departments have workout equipment to help keep members in shape. There are many more positives too numerous to list here.

Keep in mind also that not every member of a volunteer fire department runs into burning buildings. If you ever had the childhood dream of riding on a big red fire truck, but feel you just cannot walk into a fire, please still look into joining. Volunteer departments always need people to maintain equipment and the trucks. During fires volunteer departments need extra personal for crowd control, traffic direction and even persons to run for extra refinements as firefighters become dehydrated.

I hope you can see that your volunteer fire department needs you just as much as your community needs to have a fire department. I also hope you can see there are many roles to be played by people from all walks of life and ability. Finally I ask that if you ever did have a childhood dream to be a firefighter that you contact you local department and see if by helping them out, you can fulfill that dream.

Volunteer or Paid On Call Firefighter:

1. Serving Your Community

Fire and Rescue Service forms an important part of your community. We are here to protect and help whenever we are needed, and can get help to you in a very short space of time. Firefighters in particular do a whole range of jobs, varying from attending fires to helping at all sorts of incidents. They might be called to floods, road accidents or chemical spills. When an emergency happens, wouldn't you like to be able to help your friends and neighbors in a very real and practical way? You would get paid for doing it, too! If you are interested, read on...

2. Volunteer or Paid On Call Fire and Rescue Service

Become Part Of A Very Dedicated and Highly Skilled Team
The retained fire service is a group of men and women who do ordinary jobs, but are ready to go to a “shout” the moment that a call comes. They might be builders or shopkeepers, farmers or plumbers, typists or technicians. But when the call comes, they become part of a dedicated team ready to face any emergency. They may be “part-time”, but they are trained and capable people in the front line, saving lives and making headlines.

Volunteers Are In Demand
There is a shortage at the moment of people who will turn out and help in an emergency. This is particularly true in our small towns and rural areas because nowadays there are fewer people who live and work in their local towns and villages. You might be just the person to fill the gap.

Don’t believe everything you hear about the fire service. Firefighters come in all shapes and sizes, although it’s a tough job and you need to be fit and healthy. We are particularly keen for more women to join. So, what do you have to do to join these “ordinary” people?

3. Could You Be A Volunteer Firefighter?

Where Do You Live or Work ?
First of all, you need to live or work near to a fire station, because you have to be able to get there within a few minutes of a call. That’s a few hundred yards on foot or a drive of up to one mile.

Secondly, because we can’t predict when you'll be called out, you have to be flexible in your work. The chances are that you’ll be working for yourself or for a community-minded employer who can let you off from time to time.

Are You Physically and Mentally Fit For The Job ?
To apply to join the fire and Rescue Service you don’t need any paper qualifications. You must be at least 18, with good all-round fitness. In most departments you will be asked to take a straightforward physical test as part of the process, and just as important are qualities like common sense, commitment and enthusiasm. You will get the chance to work as part of a close-knit team, and with a range of modern equipment.

How Often Will You Need To Respond ?
Each community is different when it comes to the number and frequency of incidents. On average, you could be called out two or three times a week or once a month for a couple of hours. If you cannot be available all the time, that’s not a problem. There is a particular shortage of people who are available during midweek working hours, so you could have evenings or weekends free if you need to, and still do a valuable and worthwhile job. If you really can’t be on call - for example because of a deadline at work - you can “not respond”. Each department has policies and procedures on response.

You will be fully trained as a firefighter and as such you need to be able to commit to the training.

What Is In This For Me ?
Apart from the excitement, the challenge and the satisfaction of a job well done, you learn to be more self-reliant and confident. After all, if you can cope in a real emergency, you are ready for anything else which life might throw at you. You will meet a lot of people in your local community and earn their confidence and respect. You will also get training in the use of equipment, and in other more general skills like first aid. These will be useful to you in your main job, whatever that is. Added to all this, you may get paid and you mat receive a small pension!

Join The Brotherhood
There is a special kind of brotherhood or bond among firefighters. This bond transcends borders and continents. It comes from working together as a team in conditions which can be hazardous. That helps bind you together as few other jobs could.

If you think you’ve got what it takes to join the team, contact your local fire station for further information. Stop in at your local station where you can talk to the people already doing the job and find out what life as a firefighter is really like.

Equal Opportunities
The Fire and Rescue Services are equal opportunities employers, committed to the principles of fairness and equality. Applications are welcomed from all men and women who meet the entry requirements. The only criteria which the Fire and Rescue Service takes into account when recruiting are those which have a direct bearing on the candidate’s ability to do the job. If you are accepted for a job in the Fire Service, you will be entitled to, and receive, equal consideration in matters of training and promotion, whether you are a man or a woman, and whatever your racial or ethnic background or marital status.

How do I become a fire fighter in Minnesota?

Most cities and towns set their own requirements; check with your local fire department. However, many departments want you to:

Have a reasonable response time from home to fire station.
18 years of age or older
Minnesota Driver's license (Class D or better)
No physical disabilities which would prevent performing fire and rescue procedures
Successfully pass a department agility test
Successfully pass a department physical exam
Maintain minimum training and call response requirements stipulated by fire department policy

If you are in high school, check to see if your local fire department has a Fire Explorer program. Many previous Fire Explorers have gone on to become fire fighters in their communities.

Take courses at a Minnesota State College or University. Thirteen Minnesota State Colleges and Universities offer Firefighter I and Firefighter II courses.
Hennepin Technical College, Lake Superior College, and Northland Community and Technical College offer a two-year AAS degree.

Is there a mandatory age requirement for retirement?

Although Minnesota law seems to permit cities to establish mandatory retirement ages for employees who are 70 years of age or older, federal law, in general, prohibits cities from establishing mandatory retirement ages for most types of employees. Federal law does permit public employers to establish mandatory retirement ages for police and fire personnel. Click here for greater detail.

Examples of Work That Firefighters Perform

Responds to fire and rescue calls and other emergencies as required and when in the community.
Responds to fire alarms in a safe and expeditious manner, including properly positioning fire apparatus and other equipment, while conducting himself or herself in a safe and efficient manner.
Rescues individuals from fires and other emergency situations. Evacuates occupants from burning structures and assists them to safety. Administers first aid to injured persons as required.
Extinguishes fires, places hoses and ladders, operates pumps, directs streams of water, uses other extinguishing agents as appropriate, ventilates structures by opening windows or cutting holes, etc. May operate aerial equipment, fire extinguishers, bar axes, as required. Involves working inside, outside, or on top of burning and smoke-filled structures in all types of weather.
Performs salvage operations. May include placing canvas, removing excess water, shoveling out debris, patching windows and holes, and performing other cleanup as directed by officers.
Cleans up and prepares equipment, including refueling vehicles, refilling water tanks, recharging SCBAs and extinguishers, washing trucks and hand tools, drying and reloading hose, and performs other work needed to return vehicles and equipment to ready status.
Assists in inspecting, maintaining, and repairing, as necessary, all fire-related equipment. Completes proper check lists and reports damaged and improperly functioning equipment.
Maintains facility and performs housekeeping duties as directed. Includes maintenance of building and grounds, sweeping and washing floors and walls, cleaning training areas and apparatus floor, and performing minor repairs as needed and as assigned.
Assists in fire prevention duty as assigned. Assists with fire prevention education in the schools and with the public as required Maintains and improves rescue and firefighting skills.
Attends training sessions. Studies materials on fire hazards and firefighting and rescue methods.
Maintains familiarity with city streets and all fire department equipment. Complies with minimum training and attendance requirements.
Maintains personal appearance such that it does not prevent the use of safety equipment. Maintenance of facial hair meets OSHA standards.
Assists training officers and other officers in conducting training exercises as requested.
Attends all fire department functions as prescribed in the Fire Department Policies.

What is a career fire fighter? Do volunteer fire fighters get paid?

Career fire fighters work as firefighters as there full time job and have paid benefits as fire fighters.
Volunteer and Paid-on-Call firefighters have other full time jobs and respond to their fire stations when needed. They may receive no pay at all (there are about 100 volunteer departments in the state which provide no compensation at all), be paid on an hourly basis, or a per-call basis.

How can I become qualified to fight forest fires?

Meet the requirements of the state or federal agency doing the firefighting to get on a list of qualified people to be called up. You must take and pass a physical work capacity test. Check out the Wildland Training Information page at the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Several Minnesota State Colleges and Universities offer some wildland fire training. Itasca Community College offers a one year diploma and a two-year AAS degree.

How many fire departments are there in Minnesota?

Volunteer firefighters are deeply woven into the basic fabric of Minnesota and our nation. According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), there are close to 800,000 volunteer firefighters across the United States, and the majority of this nation's geographical area is protected by volunteer fire departments. Of all the fire departments in America, 73 percent are all-volunteer departments.

Minnesota Firefighter Demographics
Source: National Fire Department Census Database

690 = Fire Departments (787 actual)
864 = Fire Stations (961 actual)

Firefighters 19,862 (21,842 est 100 FDs have not reported yet)

1,842 = Career (1,875 est)
18,020 = Volunteers (19,665 est 100 FDs have not reported yet)

9,248 = Volunteer PPC (Paid Per Call)
8,772 = Volunteer

Fire Department information from the USFA Fire Department Census

Fire Departments in Minnesota are staffed with professional firefighters.

Some of our departments have career professionals and some have paid on call/volunteer professionals.

11 Totally Career Fire Departments
42 Combination Departments that have some career and some paid on call firefighters

738 Departments that have Paid on Call or totally Volunteer firefighters
791 Fire Departments in Minnesota

Approximately 67 of these departments are not for profit corporations.

Breakdown by the 87 counties in Minnesota

Listing of county numbers of each of the 87 counties in Minnesota

There are 31 of the 738 Paid-On-Call/Volunteer departments with a Paid Full Time Fire Chief

MFSN Editors Note: As of 2007 there are several cities converting to a full-time fire chief.

Click here - Download MS Word file of the above information

Click here - Download Excel file of the above info

Click here - Download 2008 Excel file of the above info in mailing labels

Click here - Search the National Fire Department Census Database

The National Fire Department Census Database provides an online address listing of U.S. fire departments registered with USFA as well as some basic information about each fire department. The purpose of the census, which is ongoing, is to create a national database for use by USFA to conduct special studies that will guide program decision-making and to improve direct communication with individual fire departments. Our colleagues in the fire protection and prevention communities, allied professions and the general public will be able to use the database for similar purposes.

Retention & Recruitment

Retention and Recruitment; Problems; Solutions: Final Report

In order to address recruitment and retention problems, the NVFC, in
cooperation with the U.S. Fire Administration, initiated a study of this issue
which included a series of nine regional workshops to span the nation over
a three-year period (1994-1996). The highly informational manual includes
sample recruitment materials and solutions to the problems surrounding
retention and recruitment. 1998; 182 pages.
Cost: free by ordering from the U.S. Fire Administration at www.usfa.fema.gov
or call 800/561-3356

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