Fire Department Reviews Methods to Increase Staff

Years ago when farmers and other locally based businesspeople populated the town, it was easy enough to find volunteer firefighters for Suffield.

But times have changed and most residents leave town boundaries for their jobs, making it harder to staff the departments.

"I’ve been here 45 years and more people are living and working outside of town," explained Fire Chief Tom Bellmore.

The need to recruit volunteers is critical as budgets shrink and volunteers are spread thin across town needs. Fewer firefighters on increasing calls mean more stress and physical drain on an already strenuous force.

The needs to grow its crew to keep up with changing times and a growing community. A recent report from students at University of Connecticut in Hartford is helping to guide the way.

"We keep trying the same things over and over again. It’s good to see things through fresh eyes," Bellmore explained.

The group of three students surveyed residents and researched data as part of their studies last year, and presented the town with the findings this spring.

"Essentially it says we need to market ourselves better," Bellmore said.

Suggestions included sponsoring more family-friendly events, holding a recruitment day, developing a mentoring program, targeting women and seeking media attention for non-firefighting activities, according to the report.

In some ways the department must compensate for some of the "barriers" to the job, which include its dangerous nature and significant training requirements.

Through classroom instruction and practical training, recruits study firefighting techniques, fire prevention, hazardous materials control, local building codes, and emergency medical procedures, including first aid and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). They also learn how to use axes, chain saws, fire extinguishers, ladders, and other fire fighting and rescue equipment.

Bellmore said 160 hours of training is required in 18 months and "that can be discouraging" to new recruits.

Studies throughout the country have shown many volunteer departments are losing steam. According to the U.S. Fire Administration, about 70 percent of fire companies were staffed entirely by volunteer fire fighters in 2007. But lately there is a smaller number of volunteers from which to draw.

"Some stations are getting very low on numbers," Bellmore said.

The department has 66 members, eight of which are paid. Of those numbers 35 are active volunteers – the rest are on reserve status as life changes have forced some to take a break. The town has four stations with the volunteers certified for different levels of firefighting abilities, such as interior and exterior firefighting.

The department responded to 464 incidents in 2010, the report noted.

"I’d like to see us get back to 50 active members," said Bellmore, who added it takes five volunteers to equal one paid firefighter in terms of availability.

The department offers free training, tax abatements and response stipends and insurance as incentives to the job. But more important can be the chance to serve the community and be a part of the department.

In fact, the students found the reputation of the department to be positive and encouraged the town to promote the camaraderie aspect of the job to entice new members.

The staffing problem is not just an issue in Suffield.

According to the U.S. Fire Administration, some local and regional fire departments are being consolidated into countywide establishments to reduce administrative staffs, cut costs, and establish consistent training standards and work procedures.

The department’s budget for fiscal year 2010 is $849,665 with 81 percent of that paying salaries and benefits. According to the report, the department "does not feel it can sustain continued salary increases at this time."

For more information about the Suffield Fire Department, please call (860-668-3888 or visit the departmen's Web page.