Be a Professional in a Volunteer Fire Department

By THOMAS A. MERRILL

Another day and I see another news story about a fiscal mistake that cost a county more than $100,000. Last year, I read a story about mistakes made on people’s tax bills that cost nearly $100,000 to fix. Even more frustrating is the fact that more than $4.4 million had to be returned to local municipalities because it was collected in error. In another instance, some senior school officials failed to file required documents in a timely and correct manner, costing their school district millions of dollars in financial aid. It is too easy to find stories about well-paid executives, administrators, and so-called business professionals missing deadlines or fouling up paperwork, bringing harm and even shame to their organizations.

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These stories amaze me when I think of all the volunteer firefighters out there working so hard to complete necessary reports, strive to meet required mandates, and do whatever else is necessary to help take care of their department and serve their community. This is in addition to constantly training and responding to emergency calls. They could have been at home all day with their children, or perhaps they worked all day at their exhausting paycheck-earning job. Then they rushed home, grabbed a quick dinner, or took care of one of the multitude of home projects that always seem to be waiting for them. Maybe they helped their children with their homework, went to a Scout meeting, attended a school activity, or coached a sporting event. No matter; afterward, they’re off to the volunteer firehouse to do something that must be done—pay the bills, attend a committee meeting, prepare for next week’s training drill, fix a broken pipe, or change out a light bulb.

Doing What Must Be Done

They do this not for accolades or recognition and certainly not for any compensation. These dedicated women and men do it for one reason only—the work must be done—properly and on time—to keep their firehouse compliant and operating smoothly. They do it to take care of their responsibilities while honorably serving their community. That’s what professionals do.

The volunteer fire department that they serve in certainly isn’t helping provide for the volunteer’s family and most likely isn’t contributing to a more successful career. In many cases, the logistics involved in the day-to-day operations at a volunteer firehouse can be quite demanding, too. Some equate the requirements and workload as equal to running a large business. The firehouse has many moving parts involving a variety of functions from operations to administration.

No Pass for Errors

If mistakes occur or bad things happen, the volunteer fire department gets no passes or “Get-out-jail-free” cards. Nobody says, “Oh, you are volunteers, it’s all right.” One mistake, one injury, or one malfeasance/misfeasance incident, and everything will be scrutinized and investigated. The true professional volunteer understands and accepts this, even on top of whatever personal pressures he is feeling at his regular job, at home, or in his own life.

Not all is great in the volunteer fire service. Indiscretions do occur, but out of the 20,000 or so volunteer fire departments across the United States, most fly under the radar and simply do what is needed to meet mandates, fulfill requirements, and move their departments forward while not bringing shame or embarrassment to it. In most of our communities, the volunteer fire department enjoys a very favorable reputation and is regarded with a high degree of trust and respect, but professional volunteer firefighters cannot rest on their laurels. The workload continues on, and there will always be a “to-do” list and deadlines to meet.

Maintaining Professionalism

Even with all the changes, challenges, and lofty expectations confronting our volunteer fire service today, volunteers certainly can still control the professional level of service that they provide, personally and organizationally. They can all help contribute to or detract from their department’s professional image. In all our organizations, the membership must understand that the coveted title “professional” is not automatically theirs when they join. It is earned and maintained through a professional development program that encompasses everybody and spans both sides of the aisle too—firefighting operations and the often-forgotten and seldom-discussed administrative side. Each member helps to define professionalism by concentrating on the professional attributes under his control. Despite all of today’s distractions and obstacles, the professional ingredients are still there for the taking.

Not Just a Social Club

From the moment a new member comes into the organization, he must be made aware of his personal responsibility for representing the department and, by extension, the entire fire service positively. Wearing the iconic Maltese cross comes with the responsibility to behave and act appropriately. All members must understand that it’s important that the firehouse is seen as more than a just a social club. The “good ol’ boys and girls club” image should not overshadow the department’s reputation as a well-run and well-put-together organization.

True professionals understand today’s standards for acceptable organizational behavior, recognizing that we live in a vastly changing and more judgmental world; firefighters and volunteer firehouses are under increased scrutiny today. The professional volunteer fire department of today must be a diversified, inclusive agency open to all members of the community, dedicated and focused on the respect, protection, and well-being of everyone.

Professional volunteers understand that there is no room for bullying, bigotry, and prejudice in our firehouses. Personal biases cannot be allowed to interfere with the mission of the fire service or treatment of fellow firefighters or the public. Any department members desiring the professional reputation for both themselves and for their department must be onboard with that sentiment!

When the individual firefighter behaves appropriately and competently takes care of his area of responsibility at the emergency scene or on the training ground, within the firehouse, or out in public, it reflects positively on the department and the entire fire service, too. Professional actions and behavior create a professional image and reputation. All true professional volunteer firefighters want their communities to form an opinion of the department and its members not by perception but by its members’ concrete examples of service, dedication, competence, compassion, and integrity.

Let’s work together to ensure our departments aren’t the ones making the news headlines through undesirable actions and behavior. Let’s remember what it means to be a true professional and ensure we embrace professional development throughout our volunteer fire service career. Remember that developing, displaying, and maintaining that professional image and reputation are the duty and responsibility of everyone in the organization. Nobody gets a pass regardless of the role, the title, or the tenure. Everybody contributes to the professional culture that we want felt inside the firehouse among all the members and witnessed outside in the communities we serve. After all, our residents are owed professional service, delivered by professional firefighters representing profession organizations.

THOMAS A.MERRILL is a 38-year member of the Snyder Fire Department in Amherst, New York. He served 26 years as a department officer, including 15 years as a chief officer and five years as chief of the department. Merrill is a fire commissioner for the Snyder Fire District and a fire dispatcher for the Town of Amherst Fire Alarm Office. He has conducted various fire service presentations throughout western New York and at FDIC International. He hosts the Fire Engineering podcast “The Professional Volunteer Fire Department.”