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Volunteer Vision: Under pressure

The fire service in Canada is under a great deal of pressure to recruit and replace an aging membership. Then again, pressure is part of the service: firefighters in general face pressure everyday.  And, as people begin to demand more and more from their local fire service, the pressure outside the organization increases.

Let’s talk about recruiting new members, for example. We encourage or even sell people on becoming members. However, we, as a brand, should also be attractive on our own so people seek us out. What should be the balance of time that you spend on attracting people versus just fielding applications? It’s getting tougher to find people that want to commit to the pressure of being in a volunteer fire department (not to mention volunteering anywhere these days). This is where I would try to shift the focus and put pressure on the organization to become a stepping stone into a fire service career. 

This will come as no surprise to anyone, but the volunteer fire service has changed. No longer are we that little community group that people joined to simply belong and give back to their community.  More and more, the pressures of response are upon us, and to our credit, we have simply gotten better at what we do. With more and more emphasis on better training, we can only hope that more people begin to see the value in getting involved. 

When you consider that volunteers are 85 per cent of the Canadian fire service, it makes perfect sense that someone will want to be involved at our level, particularly if they want to move forward as a career fire fighter.

With that being considered, we offer a lot to a prospective member. One of the key benefits of the fire service when it comes to volunteers, is the fact that in a smaller department, you really get to know each other. This goes beyond the individual volunteer members and extends to their families. They become part of our fire family and especially if you’re the leader, you often become part of their family. There was a time in a small town where you quite often knew everybody. However, as communities grow, those days are largely behind us. Applicants may not know the makeup of the department or its people, so a two-way relationship is important from the beginning.  

One of my favourite conversations with an applicant is about pressure. This relationship also needs to extend to the members and the more you get to know each other, the faster you alleviate the pressures that come with trying to fit in. The camaraderie and sense of belonging needs to be immediate from the beginning.  

From the moment a person submits their application, and long before we’d accept them into the department, I’d begin this conversation around pressure. There is no use in taking people through a long and arduous process for something they’re simply not ready for. One might think that joining a volunteer fire department is really nothing earth shattering as it’s just another way they can help in their community. Not anymore. 

Here’s a simple benchmark to consider. Something that I think puts it all into perspective. The moment that the decision is made, and the individual is accepted for membership in the fire department, is the very moment they become a hero to kids. How poignant is that? Think about it. When you are welcomed aboard, you’re a firefighter. Simple as that. Kids don’t know that you’re new or probationary and they don’t care. You’re a firefighter. How’s that for pressure?  

Show up at an emergency scene as a passenger in an engine still wearing a recruit colour helmet. We know your limitations, but the end user doesn’t and again, in their eyes, you’re a firefighter. They expect you to be like all the others. They look to you to help them. Pressure. As a leader in that engine, you must account for the new member while dealing with the incident as a first responder. Even more pressure.  

It all comes down to perceptions. The end user of our service doesn’t care who you are or what you do for a living. They don’t even care that you’re a volunteer. They need help, and you are the person that is there to help them. Pressure lies with the individual, the department and the fire service overall.  

That’s why it’s important to get out in front of it at the beginning. Don’t fear pressure, it can be your friend.  It will test you and help remind you that you know what you’re doing. Those that feel pressure are into the game and right now, the Canadian fire service needs everyone to play.  

Tom DeSorcy joined the fire service in 1983 and became the first paid firefighter in his hometown of Hope, B.C., when he became fire chief in 2000, retiring in 2023.  DeSorcy is married with children and grandchildren. He is equally at home at a bonspiel, on the golf course, or in the kitchen, and continues to enjoy his connections to the fire service.  E-mail Tom at tdesorcy@telus.net and watch for him on social media.