BY DAYNA HILTON
Fire safety fun? You bet! Take 19 firefighters and more than 60 college students, and you get the perfect ingredients for a great fire safety program. Do not have that many? Neither did our department, until March 2005. If a small rural volunteer fire department like ours can pull this off, anyone can!
Johnson County Rural Fire District #1 in Clarksville, Arkansas, has 19 firefighters and protects 45 square miles. Like many smaller departments, it has had little funding or time to run fire safety programs. Just five miles away is the University of the Ozarks, a small private university with a little more than 600 students. Combining these two organizations’ abilities through a Fire Corps program has prompted, in 2005, a 287-percent increase in fire safety programs and reduced residential property loss by 34 percent over the previous year.
In 2003, our department presented 24 fire safety programs; in 2004, 40; and in 2005, 115. Our direct fire safety programs and other fire safety-related activities reached more than 25,000 citizens that year. We accomplished this through the efforts of our firefighters and Fire Corps members.
Fire departments nationwide inquiring about our program think that we have a big department. You do not have to be big to accomplish what we have.
Our department’s Fire Corps includes members of the university’s Future Business Leaders of America/Phi Beta Lambda (FBLA/PBL) educational organization, aimed at students planning to enter business-related fields. FBLA/PBL brings together business and education through leadership and career development programs.
Through Fire Corps, more than 60 members of the local FBLA/PBL chapter volunteered almost 1,700 hours, presented 32 fire safety programs, and participated in 143 hours of fire safety training, and more than 170 group and individual activities in 2005 (photos 1, 2). Fire Corps’ participation has greatly enhanced our fire safety programming, impacting firefighters and students alike. How did we get here?
 (1) Photo courtesy of Johnson County Rural Fire District #1. |
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 (2) Photo courtesy of the University of the Ozarks. |
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HOW IT BEGAN
According to the United States Fire Administration, Arkansas has one of the highest numbers of fire related deaths in the United States; most of those are young children and the elderly. We wanted to change this unfortunate distinction. Our department’s fire prevention goals are to reduce fire deaths, civilian injuries, and economic losses and to increase public fire safety awareness.
Through funding from four FIRE Act grants and two Arkansas Fire Prevention Commission grants totaling more than $150,000, our department has built a strong fire safety program. After the department was awarded its third grant, we realized that we needed the help of students from the university even more. We had used them previously on a smaller scale.
As fire safety program requests increased, it became increasingly difficult for about five people in the department to do it all.
Two things prompted the growth of our fire safety programming. In 2002, I completed the “Prevention Solutions for Small Communities and Departments” course (now called “Leading Community Fire Prevention”) at the National Fire Academy. The six-day course, ideal for any small department, is designed to help build a fire prevention base for emergency responders in communities of 25,000 or less. It enables students to identify and apply prevention strategies in their communities.
Subjects include lessons from the past, risk identification, prevention tools and techniques, influencing community prevention activities, prevention plan marketing, and impact evaluation. Class activities allow the students to apply what they are learning; after taking this course, students are better prepared to develop and implement a community fire prevention plan. This class was a definite turning point for our department.
The other was the creation of our local Fire Corps program. When we initially considered starting such a program, a public education colleague told me, “Volunteers are more trouble than they are worth.” That statement couldn’t have been further from the truth! Instead, we went ahead and started a local Fire Corps program, tapping into one of America’s greatest resources: volunteers.
In February 2005, our chief and firefighters authorized a Fire Corps program in our department. Our firefighters are very supportive of fire safety programs, and having received our third FIRE Act grant for fire prevention and safety, we all knew that we needed some serious help in presenting our fast-growing fire safety programs.
The Fire Corps mission appealed to our department; it is designed to enhance the ability of fire/EMS departments to use and integrate citizen advocates (i.e., civilians who assist in nonoperational roles) and provide individuals and groups with opportunities to support their local fire/EMS departments with their time and talents. Such support includes administrative functions, fund-raising, data entry, bookkeeping, and life safety education-the possibilities are endless.
Overall, in 2005, there were 115 programs, 6,446 donated hours, and participation in more than 255 hours of fire safety training by firefighters and Fire Corps members. This may not sound like a lot to some, but for our small department, it was a far cry from our fire safety programming before 2002, when we averaged only 30 minutes a year. It was not until Fire Corps came into being that our volunteer program became structured and an organization within itself. In 2004, volunteers donated 100 hours of their time; in 2005, this increased to 1,669.
What we found beneficial was that an organization helped us out, as opposed to individuals. Through the use of this large group, productivity increased by 924 percent. Although we are not discounting the use of individuals, when a group of individuals works together, there is greater productivity as the group works toward a common goal.
Nine countries are represented in our local Fire Corps. Not only can those volunteers reach civilians in the United States, but they also can carry the fire safety messages home to the citizens of their respective countries. A small group of people can make a big difference!
BENEFITS
Since all our firefighters are volunteers, we have to use our vacation time to do programming. With the help of Fire Corps, we can plan programs for the future and not worry about whether we have enough people to help. Like a football team, we have plenty of depth, and students are cross-trained to handle any fire safety activity.
With the help of a collegiate business organization, the students’ expertise in helping with promotion and planning events has been tremendous. For example, our Fire Corps members helped to increase attendance at our annual Fire Safety Awareness Parade and Kidsfest Safety Fair in 2005, which was four times that of the previous year. Because of training received in and outside of the department, self-motivated Fire Corps members have learned how to create and implement their own fire safety programs, a definite benefit to the department.
Two Fire Corps members are working toward becoming certified firefighters-this alone will tremendously benefit our department. Also, the number of businesses and organizations offering to help fund our programs has increased since we started Fire Corps.
STARTING YOUR OWN PROGRAM
Any fire and emergency service-affiliated organization that uses citizen advocates (i.e., civilians who assist in a nonoperational roles) constitutes a Fire Corps program. Although integrating your department and your Fire Corps program into your local or state Citizen Corps councils is recommended, there are no additional requirements other than having community members assist in your organization and registering your program with Fire Corps at www.firecorps.org.
Fire Corps welcomes all interested community members and fire/EMS departments, regardless of membership. Any fire/EMS department or rescue squad can request assistance to start a Fire Corps program or add a description of an existing effort to the Fire Corps database. The only requirement to register is being a fire or EMS department or rescue squad or having a direct affiliation with a department or local, state, federal, or tribal fire or EMS agency.
Discuss starting a Fire Corps program with your chief and firefighters; make sure you have their support to pursue the addition of citizen advocates. With your members’ approval and knowledge, it will be much easier to introduce the citizen volunteers to your department.
Develop a plan that defines the direction of your fire and life safety program and sets specific goals and objectives, and explain how Fire Corps members will be involved. Assess your fire safety program’s needs, and reevaluate your plan at least three or four times a year. There are many books, articles, and other resources available to help you in planning your fire safety program. Do not start recruiting Fire Corps volunteers until you know what you are doing with your fire safety program and what you expect from your Fire Corps members.
Next, develop a simple, brief job description. It can be a few sentences describing the work to be performed. You must be clear in communicating to prospective Fire Corps volunteers what they will do, how long they will be expected to do it, and who will benefit from their efforts.
Find out what motivates the individual or group of volunteers with whom you want to work. With our group, they were just looking to fulfill a community service project, but it actually ended up being something more-knowing that were able to make a difference in people’s lives and having an enjoyable experience. Make sure that your program meets your department’s needs and those of the individual or group you want to involve. Listen to and understand their needs; this will enable your department to work hand-in-hand with the group, and the members will be more willing to help.
The key to effective recruiting is that you must be passionate and motivated about your department’s fire safety program. If you are not personally committed to it, find someone who is strongly committed to the program to recruit volunteers.
Recruiting Fire Corps members is a year-round process, involving keeping your fire department’s name and its available volunteer opportunities in the public eye at all times.
When trying to recruit an individual or a group, be honest about the time and work involved. Give the recruits the option of committing as little or as much time as they can offer; do not pressure them to join.
You can find volunteers and volunteer groups through schools, colleges, businesses, agencies and civic organizations, 4-H clubs, the Boy and Girl Scouts, and fire department auxiliary members. These are just a few of the sources from which you can recruit.
When introducing Fire Corps members to your firefighters, remind everyone that they are all part of the same team so firefighters do not feel threatened or feel as though someone else is “getting all the glory.” Find a balance in getting both groups to work together, and keep the lines of communications open among the chief, firefighters, and Fire Corps members.
Explore fire safety training possibilities for your Fire Corps members through in-house, state fire academy, or National Fire Academy programs. Once these folks have received the necessary training, they can go out and do programs on their own. Involve volunteers in programs, and keep them involved so they do not become bored. Do not let them feel that their time is being wasted or that they are not really needed.
Recognizing your Fire Corps is very important. Take every opportunity to thank those who help. Doing small things to recognize their efforts can go a very long way. Thank them personally at every available opportunity or send small thank-you notes. Recognize these volunteers in presentations and through the media as often as possible.
Plan fun events for your Fire Corps members and firefighters, such as picnics or pizza parties. It’s a great way to bring the two groups together. Food definitely brings out the best in people.
Although there might be hurdles along the way, just remember not to let them get you down. Be prepared for possible resistance from your chief or firefighters in bringing in help for your fire safety program. Ask for their support and explain the benefits of having citizens assist: It allows the fire department more time for firefighter training and equipment maintenance and enables it to promote fire safety on a broader scale. Take the time to work with the firefighters in helping them understand that involving volunteers will be a team effort.
Employing Fire Corps and a little ingenuity, your department will be able to reach its fire safety programming goals and those target risk groups in your area. Through “Prevention through Education,” your department can help keep those in this country fire safe.
Reference
Larmer, Nancy, Recruiting Volunteers (1996) http://www.omafra.gov.on.ca/english/rural/facts/96-005.htm/.
DAYNA HILTON, a member of the fire service since 2000, is public fire and life safety educator for Johnson County Rural Fire District #1 in Clarksville, Arkansas. She is a deputy state fire marshal and serves on the Arkansas Fire Prevention Commission. She is a member of the Technical Committee of National Fire Protection Association 1035, Standard for Professional Qualifications for Public Fire and Life Safety Educator, and of the International Fire Service Training Association Validation Committee for the Public Fire and Life Safety Educator manual. Hilton is an International Fire Service Accreditation Congress-certified public fire and life safety educator II and firefighter II and is an adjunct instructor with the Arkansas Fire Academy and a contract instructor for the National Fire Academy. She received the 2006 National Volunteer Fire Council’s Fire Prevention Award for her efforts with Fire Corps. Her department received the Arkansas Fire Prevention Commission’s Carnahan Award, given annually to a fire department in recognition of excellence and achievement in the field of fire, life safety, and fire prevention.
FIRE CORPS: MAKING AN IMPACT
BY LORI MOON
Since community service plays a major role in Future Business Leaders of America/Phi Beta Lambda (FBLA/PBL) chapter at the University of the Ozarks, our group got involved with the local Fire Corps in 2005.
Our participation has enabled us to apply classroom information in a real-world setting and given us the opportunity to plan events from start to finish. We hosted the university’s Million-Pound Celebration. Since trash burning is such a prominent problem in Arkansas, we felt it was important to teach children the importance of recycling instead of burning.
Our Fire Corps team used its business skills in a variety of applications-publicity and advertising, marketing research and analysis, financial planning, and recruiting additional volunteers, which enabled us to expand our team.
Furthermore, the networking we accomplished at this event and others has been tremendous. We met and worked with numerous city officials and locals in the community on numerous occasions.
Not only was planning beneficial to those involved, but it also created a sense of enthusiasm. We used our creative energies to be innovative in the safety messages that we wanted to convey to children. One member volunteered to be “Recycle Man,” the event’s mascot, and was a favorite among the kids.
All the planning and organization this event entailed provided us a tremendous amount of experience in a real-world setting and empowered us with knowledge that we can apply as we enter the workforce. That is why Fire Corps was such an excellent project for our business organization.
Our involvement in Fire Corps enabled us to step outside of our comfortable college setting and get involved with the community personally. Most importantly, these experiences have not merely impacted us as business students. While setting up these events, we learned the real meaning behind fire safety and education. The statistics, evidence, and facts presented made us aware of the community’s needs and gave us a sense of responsibility to give back to the community to fulfill those needs.
This past semester, we went to local elementary schools and performed skits and puppet shows about fire safety. One day, after a picnic with Katrina evacuee children, one of the little girls wrapped her arms around my leg, looked up at me, and asked, “Are you guys going to come back every weekend?” This is what Fire Corps is all about, helping others.
We have an enormous opportunity to reach not only children but everyone in the community. The smoke alarm that we installed in someone’s house could eventually save a life. Someone once taught me the simple rule of “Stop, drop, and roll”; I have remembered that for years. Knowing that we are able to relay such important fire safety messages drives me and the entire Fire Corps team here in Johnson County to do more. It has a snowball effect: The more we participate, the more connected we feel, and the more we want to get involved. It has made such an impact that three members of our Fire Corps team are training to become volunteer firefighters.
When I first got involved with Fire Corps, I had no idea the influence it would have on ourselves or our community. As a college senior, my perspective of the world and the community I live in has completely changed from four years ago. When I graduate, I will take the experiences and knowledge I have gained through Fire Corps with me. Fire Corps has taught me the importance of giving, and the efforts we make and have made will have more of an impact than I could ever have imagined.
LORI MOON of Rogers, Arkansas, is a senior majoring in marketing at the University of the Ozarks in Clarksville, Arkansas. She is president of the university’s Future Business Leaders of America/Phi Beta Lambda organization and head of the Johnson County RFD #1 Fire Corps.
