The International Association of Fire Chiefs debuted its virtual National Volunteer Firefighter Geospatial Recruitment & Retention Toolkit at the Indiana Fire and EMS Conference (formerly known as the Indiana Emergency Response Conference) in front of an audience of firefighters and first responders.
The free toolkit is available for departments across the country to use and was based on innovative technology that was developed to create the Indiana Volunteer Firefighter Geospatial Recruitment and Retention Toolkit, which was created last year to support volunteer firefighter recruitment in the state.
“Recruiting new volunteer firefighters is essential, but retention is what keeps our communities safe,” said Megan Thiele, Indiana Fire Chiefs Association Executive Director. “Every trained and experienced volunteer who stays brings knowledge, leadership, and trust that can’t be replaced overnight. By supporting retention, we make sure that the investment in training pays off and that our fire departments remain strong, resilient, and ready to answer the call.”
Volunteer firefighters are a critical component to make sure communities in Indiana stay safe, with volunteers making up more than 80 percent of the state’s first responders. There are more than 800 volunteer and rescue departments in the state, and while many volunteer firefighters are trained to fight fires, other volunteers can fill administrative roles, write grants to support funding for new equipment, serve as community liaisons and more.
The new national toolkit serves as a data-driven tool to support department leadership in their strategic planning as they work to keep their departments strong.
