In 1997, the NVFC embarked on a national volunteer recruitment effort that has the potential to be the most effective campaign the volunteer fire service has ever experienced. The project allows for national exposure for the volunteer emergency services. The project is the national implementation of 1-800-FIRE-LINE.

Pioneered by NVFC New Jersey Director, Mr. Edward S. Cohn, the program has enjoyed much success.

How does this program work? States which adopt the 1-800-FIRE-LINE number simply have calls placed within the area code boundaries for their states routed to a statewide answering point. The names of prospective volunteers who call the 1-800-FIRE-LINE are passed on to local contacts who will inform them about the emergency service opportunities in their communities, (fire, EMS, police auxiliary, search and rescue, forest fire service, OEM, canine rescue, etc.)

Publicity materials have also been developed. Every high schools and library in the online states will receive a video, poster and pamphlet about volunteer opportunities and the1-800-FIRE-LINE program. The video is geared toward America's youth and the importance of volunteering in your community. Funding for the video production and distribution was donated by the Prudential Foundation.

1-800-FIRE-LINE is currently operational in Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maryland, Massachusetts, Missouri, Nebraska, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Texas, Washington, West Virginia and Wyoming.

The NVFC has developed an easy "How To" packet to with easy to follow, step-by-step instructions on how to make 1-800-FIRE-LINE operational in your state. In 1998, the NVFC produced a 1-800-Fire Line Product Catalog which aids in exposure for the program. F

urthermore, the National Association of State Fire Marshals endorsed this program as the national recruitment effort for the country.

Recruitment and retention of volunteer firefighters has been a high priority of the NVFC since it was organized in 1976. The need to make more people aware of the need for volunteers in the emergency services led the NVFC to make a "Commitment to Action" for the President's Summit for America's and participate actively in the Summit in Philadelphia in April 1997.

The NVFC has committed to work towards expanding the ranks of the volunteer fire service in America from 840,000 to one million by the year 2000. This will be accomplished through the many recruitment projects that the NVFC is currently involved with, in addition to establishing a nation-wide toll-free "hotline" called 1-800-FIRE-LINE.