John Rose of Oak Bluffs: A Pressing Issue with Volunteer Firefighters

While firefighters in the country’s bigger cities are often the recipients of praise and gratitude, John Rose of Oak Bluffs reminds everyone that volunteer firefighters deserve respect and recognition as well.

The work that volunteer firefighters do is only sometimes straightforward. Many of their duties can be both physically and mentally exhausting, which often means long hours and long nights.

Many volunteer firefighters don’t get paid because they are doing it more out of genuine care for others than anything else.

That said, all the challenges faced by volunteer firefighters are probably why fire departments have low recruiting and retention rates, especially for volunteers.

Enlisting and keeping volunteer firefighters active is, without a doubt, a very pressing problem. According to John Rose of Oak Bluffs, the number of volunteers who are being recruited actively into the fire service is a lot smaller than the number of people leaving or aging out.

One possible cause could be a societal shift in the priorities of people’s work and life. Because of the health and safety issues that are associated with firefighting, membership requirements can be quite daunting. Besides meetings and drills, fundraisers, and training sessions, members also have to respond to actual emergencies.

In recent years, roughly half of all firefighters have been found to be between the ages of 30 and 49, which is why it’s easy to see how many prospective volunteers would not have the time or the capacity to devote their lives to these activities, especially when you take into consideration their family life and work schedule.

Moreover, firefighting itself is dangerous. It’s only natural that there are people hesitant to take the chance that they could be injured on the job, and this injury would prevent them from caring for and supporting their loved ones.

Alongside recruitment issues, John Rose of Oak Bluffs mentions member retention as another serious concern.

Although there are many reasons members choose to resign, these incidents are often predictable as well as preventable. That said, some organizations consciously and purposely decide to wait until volunteers leave, even before attempting to analyze and address the things that went wrong and how to fix them.

Despite all the industry resources available, many volunteer fire departments use retention practices that revolve around reactionary discussions, which should not be the case. John Rose of Oak Bluffs says that preemptive solutions are more ideal in these circumstances.

On a final note, if department leaders want to engage both current and prospective members, they must be willing to apply the principles of both situational awareness and strategic foresight toward the internal issues inside their organizations.

John Rose of Oak Bluffs, Martha’s Vineyard, excelled as a multi-sport athlete in high school, notably leading the golf team as captain. With certifications including Fire Prevention Officer and Fire Officer 1, John demonstrates a strong commitment to public safety. Dedicated to Oak Bluffs, John Rose strives to positively impact the lives of its residents. Read similar blogs on this page.