Gordon Graham
Category: Fire Service
Gordon Graham here with Today’s Tip from Lexipol. Today’s Tip is for my friends in the fire service. And I want to talk about operating with limited staffing.
Staffing shortages are all too common. Short-staffing might arise from a competitive job market, an increase in retirements, community growth, limited funding, or a decline in volunteerism.
Let the community know you’re looking for help.
Whatever the cause, shortages bring challenges we must address. Reduced staffing severely hampers a crew’s efficiency. A study from the National Institute of Standards and Technology found that a four-person crew can accomplish a task 7 minutes faster than a two-person crew. The effect of staffing on timeliness is profound – and in the fire service, time equals life and property.
Ignoring the problem will not make it go away. But solutions are out there. Fire service leaders should be careful not to create the illusion of sufficient staffing. It can be tempting to spread out staff and keep more units available, but fire trucks don’t put out fires, firefighters do.
Partnerships with neighboring agencies can help soften the blow. While mutual aid companies may have longer response times, adding them to your structure fire assignment can mean the difference between life and death.
But if mutual aid isn’t an option, you might need a budgetary fix. Your department may be eligible for a SAFER grant to fund paid positions or improve volunteer recruitment. It takes some work to obtain grant funding, but it pays off for your department and the community.
One final thought: Improving recruitment doesn’t need to be costly. Attendance at community events, partnerships with local businesses, and open houses are all methods that can bring new members into your department. Let the community know you’re looking for help.
No matter what, you need to deal with insufficient staffing head on. Because proper staffing leads to safer fire scenes and a safer community.
And that’s Today’s Tip from Lexipol. Gordon Graham signing off.
