BY SARAH LEE
IN TODAY’S WORLD, we are barraged with information through social media, email, texts, and a general 24/7 digital accessibility. It is far too easy for us to feel “connected” without having any actual human connections. This is a void in which the fire service provides a quick and ready solution-offering real, human connection with a sense of camaraderie, trust, and friendship that is unparalleled in most other professions (photo 1).
What Is the Culture of Your Fire Department?
Joining the fire service automatically makes you part of a large, global family that is tightly connected regardless of location, gender, background, religion, or language. Travel to any country and firefighters instantly have something in common that connects and bonds them. This level of connection is key to recruitment and retention, member engagement, and overall happiness.
And science supports this. A decades-long Harvard study indicates that a connection with colleagues is a key factor for happier, healthier workers.1 Relationships protect our health and happiness, prevent disease, and may help us live longer. Dr. Robert Waldinger, a Harvard professor of psychiatry and director of this study, states, “If we want more relationships, if we don’t have enough in our life, one of the best ways to do that is to do something you love or something you care about alongside other people.” It is this sense of connection and camaraderie that the fire service so readily extends to its members. It is also often a reason why people join—and stay-in the fire service.
Local volunteer departments can harness this benefit to attract new volunteers and keep their existing ones. There are several ways to build camaraderie. Here’s a look at some of them.
Be Clear on the Culture You Want
Having a healthy, welcoming environment where members work hard and have fun together comes from the top. This isn’t a written policy, but rather it is a lived experience. While words are OK, we must back them up with actions that reflect the desired culture. Yelling, berating, and bullying have no place in any workplace and certainly not one where lives depend on strong, trusting relationships.
Be calm and set realistic expectations. Know how to have fun. And know when to praise and when to reach out to someone who might need a little extra support. Remember that your members and colleagues have jobs and families to balance in addition to their volunteer service. Build a culture of camaraderie so the department is a place they want to be.
Be Inclusive
Camaraderie comes from feeling like part of a group, feeling trusted and valued. Try these tips to build inclusivity within your department:
- Be inclusive of all members.
- Invite newer members and even prospective members to join your crew for dinner.
- Do a ride-along.
- Watch a training exercise.
Reach beyond your typical group or duty crew and connect with others in the organization. Include your nonuniformed or nonoperational members. Invite them to participate whenever you can, as they are also a critical part of your organization and its path to success. And you never know, one of them could become your next operational member!
Recruit Wisely
Many departments are hurting for members and need operational and nonoperational support to run the department effectively and efficiently. That doesn’t mean every volunteer is the right fit. Bringing in a volunteer who doesn’t work well with younger members (or vice versa) or whose personality doesn’t allow the person to listen or learn effectively from others could drive your good volunteers away. Personality is as important as skills, motivation, and ability when making hiring decisions— even when you’re hiring volunteers. Make the wrong decision and one bad apple can spoil the bunch.
Have Fun Together
Sure, training can be fun. Even cooking and sharing a meal at the station has its moments. But you’ll find equal value in stepping away from the station and connecting without emergency calls looming over your head. Here are some great ways to have off-site fun:
- Plan a movie night in the bay or training room.
- Plan a round of mini golf or tubing together.
- Get seats together at a local sporting event.
- Secure a few tables at a local park where you can have a picnic and play a game of softball or kickball.
These are ideal times to learn about your members outside of the station. You can help strengthen everyone’s relationships in a fun, no-pressure environment. Want to kick it up a notch? Have members invite friends or family members. Now you have a recruitment event.
Remember the Family
When someone joins the fire department, it’s a family affair. From long training hours and duty shifts to emergency calls that crop up during family celebrations or holidays, the whole family is affected. Responders who have family support are more likely to succeed and continue to volunteer.
Communicate with family members about what they should expect in terms of schedules, calls, and meetings. When you’re onboarding a new recruit, invite the parents, partner, or spouse to come to the station to learn more about what you do, what the expectations are, and the health and safety measures in place. Give them a tour of the station. Invite family members to your department’s events and to participate with the department in parades, at awards ceremonies, or during an open house.
Beyond the Station
Establishing—and keeping—a sense of community goes beyond the local fire station. Organizations such as the American Legion, Key Club, and parent-teacher associations all help us find a sense of connection and build peer groups. Each state has at least one fire service association that you can join to connect with other first responders in the state, learn new skills, and stay abreast of the issues that affect first responders in that state.2
The National Volunteer Fire Council is a national association, expanding this connection to all 50 states and even other countries.3 Conferences, training events, meetings, and online forums all allow first responders to make personal, lasting connections across a much broader spectrum. Building these bigger connections and developing camaraderie with other like-minded individuals are a great way to advance your own knowledge, understand the big picture when it comes to your interests or industry, and improve your health and longevity by making meaningful human connections.
ENDNOTES
SARAH LEE is the chief executive officer of the National Volunteer Fire Council. She has more than 25 years of experience in the nonprofit sector, serving mostly in the fire and emergency services. In addition to a bachelor’s degree, Lee has a master’s degree in public administration and nonprofit management; is credentialed as a Certified Association Executive through the American Society of Association Executives; and has a certificate in diversity, equity, and inclusion in the workplace. She serves as the membership chair with the Purcellville (VA) Volunteer Fire Department, where she helps with recruitment and retention.
