The Committee for Volunteers provides a resource for the membership dealing with specific problems relative to the volunteer fire service
- Leadership Skills for Chiefs
- Management Skills including collecting and reviewing volunteer applications, improving interviewing techniques, evaluating prospects, describing expectations, and motivating new volunteer
- Retention techniques by anticipating retention challenges, creating a cohesive environment, and rewarding performance with incentive
- Implementing a local volunteer recruiting campaign
Fire service and community leaders are encouraged to attend this R&R Workshop. There is NO COST to attend the workshop; travel, 2 nights lodging, and per diem for attendees will be reimbursed upon completion of the workshop. The R&R workshop is designed to facilitate open discussion about the local Volunteer Firefighter retention and recruitment issues.
Current CSFA Grant Overview
The California State Firefighters’ Association (CSFA) was awarded $1.99 million for a ‘staffing for adequate fire & emergency response’ (SAFER) grant in November 2018 to help recruit & retain more volunteer firefighters for departments in the state. Click here for the CSFA Chief’s handout concerning the grant.
Recruitment & Retention Took Kits
- CSFA is providing recruitment and retention kits for eligible volunteer fire departments to consist of 1 36”x 96” vinyl banner, 100 11x17” Posters and 200 6x10” Handouts to assist the department with recruitment and retention efforts in the community.
- For a complete listing of the different style kits available, click here
- To apply for your departments FREE materials, click here
The CSFA Surplus Equipment Placement Program began in 1984 under the guidelines of CSFA and is administered by the CSFA Committee for Volunteers. If you have or can provide surplus equipment, please contact Dick Brown at rbrown@csfa.net
Your CSFA NVFC representative is Dick Brown (Delegate) Email: dndbrown@caltel.com
Executive Summary - The issue of proper training, education and qualifications for apparatus operators is a key issue. National statistics have demonstrated time after time that apparatus accidents are a leading cause of firefighter injury and fatality. This document is being provided to the volunteer fire service as a tool to assure high quality consideration for apparatus operators who are chauffeuring emergency vehicles under emergency conditions. The document consists of a problem statement, documents from the DMV, and documents from the State Fire Marshal's Office, samples of program activity in the field and a recommended course of action by a local fire chief.