"Rethinking Recruitment and Retention for the Volunteer Fire Department" by Ed Geis (Fire Engineering, April 2015) was a breath of fresh air. Well-intentioned, but misguided, legislators always want to "throw money at the problem," which is their standard procedure.
As the author correctly points out, individuals do not volunteer for firefighting for money and perks but for pride and satisfaction in being part of a team that serves their fellow man. Extensive perks would probably not be beneficial, as some who will join for these reasons will participate only to the extent necessary to achieve eligibility.
Many fire departments do not want to admit it, but poor and misguided leadership is a primary reason the fire service has a personnel problem. The best thing the volunteer fire service can do to recruit and retain members is to "get their houses in order" and offer the effective leadership that motivates members to want to be part of a professional and dynamic team.
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