News
Retention and Recruitment Component of SAFER Grants Critical for Volunteer Fire Departments
Published Date: 05.28.2008
The Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) grant application period opened on May 27 and will remain open until June 27. Through SAFER, volunteer fire departments have a tremendous opportunity to address two of the most significant challenges they face – retention and recruitment of members.
The Department of Homeland Security will distribute at least $19 million for the retention and recruitment component of SAFER this fiscal year, the highest amount ever. There is no local funding match required for retention and recruitment grants, so all volunteer departments, even those that have extremely limited resources, have an opportunity to receive funding.
Many volunteer fire departments are finding it increasingly difficult to recruit and retain new members. The number of volunteer firefighters has decreased over the past two decades, largely because there has been a reduction in the number of young people joining the volunteer fire service. In 2006, according to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), 54.3 percent of firefighters (most of them volunteer) in departments protecting communities of 24,999 or fewer people were under the age of 40, compared with 65.5 percent in 1987. In communities of 2,500 or fewer (which are almost exclusively protected by volunteer departments), 50 percent of all firefighters were under the age of 40 in 2006, compared with 64.2 percent in 1987.
Firefighters Protecting Communities with a Population of Less Than 25,000
|
Age |
2006 |
1987 |
|
Under 30 |
214,282 (27.3%) |
265,000 (31.8%) |
|
30-39 |
210,569 (26.9%) |
278,000 (33.4%) |
|
40-49 |
191,059 (24.4%) |
168,000 (20.1%) |
|
50 and Up |
166,690 (21.3%) |
121,000 (14.5%) |
Source: National Fire Protection Association
There are a variety of factors contributing to the reduction in the number of new volunteer firefighters, including increased time requirements for training and getting certified, people commuting longer distances to work, and more households in which all adult members are employed. Because different communities face different challenges in maintaining volunteer staffing levels, SAFER grants give departments the flexibility to apply for recruitment and retention grants to carry out a wide range of activities. According to the FY 2008 SAFER Grant Criteria, these include:
- Insurance packages such as accidental death and dismemberment (AD&D), disability, health, dental, life, etc.
- Reimbursement to the member for attending required basic training, i.e., compensation for lost wages, mileage, lodging, per diem
- Marketing costs to recruit new volunteer members
- Physicals may be eligible if the applicant can adequately demonstrate that the provision of the physicals would enhance the applicant’s ability to recruit and/or retain volunteer firefighters
- Explorer, cadet, and/or mentoring programs
- Staffing needs assessment
- Tuition assistance for higher education (including college tuition) and professional certifications. Note: Coursework or certifications in this category should be above and beyond what the department typically funds for required minimum-staffing firefighter certification
- Length of service awards and other retirement benefits
Applicants should review the entire grant guidance document before beginning the application process. SAFER grants are awarded competitively and applications that adhere closely to the directives in the grant guidance will receive greater consideration. If you have questions about the SAFER Grants or how to apply, contact the Assistance to Firefighters Grant Help Desk at 1-866-274-0960 or firegrants@dhs.gov.
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Kimberly Quiros
Director of Communications
202-887-5700 ext. 119
David Finger
Director of Government Relations
202-887-5700 ext. 112