Leesburg Fire Company to Participate Volunteer Recruitment Study

Leesburg Fire Department Chosen for Statewide Study on Recruiting Volunteers

The Virginia Fire Chiefs Association (VFCA) has selected the Leesburg Volunteer Fire Company as one of 14 departments in Virginia to participate in a statewide program aimed at increasing volunteer recruitment.

The VFCA is heading up the Volunteer Workforce Solutions (VWS) program in partnership with the International Association of Fire Chiefs, Environmental Systems Research Institute (Esri), and George Mason University. Esri is the world's leading geographic information systems (GIS) software manufacturer. Funding for the VWS program is provided by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security from a Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) Grant.

Staffing has consistently been the No. 1 issue facing volunteer fire departments since 2004, according to the VFCA. A 2012 Virginia Fire Service Needs Assessment Survey conducted by the Virginia Department of Fire Programs, found that 70 percent of all survey respondents reported the need for more volunteer firefighters, according to information provided by the VFCA; and two-thirds of all Virginia firefighters are volunteers.

“Over the last several years, it has been very tough for many fire departments throughout Virginia to recruit and retain volunteers for a variety of reasons,” said VFCA Executive Director Jimmy Carter in a press release, adding that “most volunteer fire departments are struggling to bolster their volunteer workforce in order to provide the optimum level of protection for residents. The VWS program attempts to identify and mitigate the recruitment and retention problems facing volunteer fire departments while assisting the departments and elected officials in effectively planning their future emergency response systems.”

As part of the VWS program, the Leesburg department will use a Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Segmentation Study to take an in-depth look at the community by measuring demographic, cultural and economic data to predict the best way to recruit volunteer firefighters. The basis of the Segmentation Study is that just like people; communities also have unique “personalities” that can be analyzed to identify the characteristics and traits that will attract a viable and sustainable volunteer firefighter workforce.

“Tapestry Segmentation has been used successfully by government agencies, businesses and organizations to better understand population segments, how to reach them, and serve them,” said Jennifer Schottke, Senior Manager of Fire/EMS and Public Safety Policy at Esri in the press release.

These studies are designed to provide a roadmap for each community and suggest recommendations that can further advance the recruitment of volunteer firefighters.  

In addition to the Tapestry Segmentation information, the VWS program highlights its Everyday Heroes Campaign which advertises the right message to the right audience through personal outreach and recruitment events. The campaign also includes one central website, www.EverydayHeroVa.org  to direct prospective volunteers to a respective fire department and to provide other resourceful information. 

Esri, George Mason University, the IAFC and the VFCA will evaluate the program, with the goal of providing a roadmap for further advancing the recruitment of volunteer firefighters in Virginia. The group will submit a formal program analysis and report to FEMA.

The Leesburg Volunteer Fire Company now includes about 70 firefighters, but would like to recruit 20 additional firefighters. The Leesburg Volunteer Fire Company protects a population of 50,000 covering 44 square miles and responds to about 1,800 calls each year.

“We are excited about the support that we are receiving through the VWS grant program and will work hard to achieve our recruiting goals,” said Leesburg Volunteer President Richard Wolfe.

Besides Leesburg, the following fire departments are participating in the Phase II portion of the VWS program:

• Albemarle County Fire Rescue
• Botetourt County Emergency Services
• City of Hampton Fire and Rescue
• Clarke County Fire and Rescue Association
• County of Orange Fire and EMS
• Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department
• Fairfax Volunteer Fire Department (City of Fairfax)
• Franklin Fire and Rescue/Hunterdale Volunteer Fire Department (City of Franklin)
• Henry County Department of Public Safety/ Martinsville Fire and EMS
• Manassas Volunteer Fire Company
• New Kent County Fire-Rescue
• Purcellville Volunteer Fire Company
• Shenandoah County Department of Fire and Rescue

General information about the VWS program is available at www.EverydayHeroVa.org or by contacting Richard Wolfe of the Leesburg Volunteer Fire Company.