Employees

Fire departments can be broken down into four different categories based on their personnel:

All Volunteer <> Mostly Volunteer <> Mostly Paid <> Full Time, Paid

Most fire departments fall somewhere in the middle of the spectrum. In many communities, fire services remain reliant upon the commitment of volunteers, reflecting the more communal origins of fire brigades. To this day, 70 percent of all firefighters in the US are volunteers, though they tend to be in smaller communities that service less people. Even in larger cities, fire departments will likely rely, to some extent, upon volunteers or paid-on-call officers who are paid for the time spent responding to fires. A fire department in a medium-sized city may be staffed by full-time, paid personnel; however, in the event of catastrophic emergencies those departments often rely upon the support of volunteer departments in neighboring communities. Whatever size city you are in, it is important for local public managers to recognize the need for fire departments to maintain relationships and engage in joint training with neighbors.

Many people pursue the fire service as a lifelong career, so in the firehouse you will often find employees who are extraordinarily dedicated to their work. Of course, when individuals leave or retire, it can be difficult to replace their years of experience. Therefore, recruiting and training is a critical factor for fire departments. Several rounds of screening test candidates based on their physical and mental capacities, while officers probe motivations for applying. In training, local departments are guided by state and national standards, though most departments will require their own certifications to ensure firefighters are trained to the same level.

Any discussion of fire department personnel must recognize the distinct culture that develops in any fire house. Firefighters draw from a long history and unique traditions that inform their activities, and tends to set them apart from other city services. Several factors contribute to a rather insular culture: selective admission of candidates, military heritage in management, dangerous mission on the job, communal living while on duty.