Volunteer Firefighter Interviews

Please see below from our partners NFPA Research Foundation/NDRI in reference to a research project our 3 organizations area working on. They are still seeking interviewees and your help is needed. If you are able to participate, please sign up for an interview below, or if you know someone else that would be a good fit, please pass this along:

Your participation is needed!

You are invited to participate in the project Understanding the Role of Training on Volunteer Firefighter Recruitment and Retention. This project was funded by FEMA Assistance to Firefighters Grant Fire Prevention and Safety Grant #EMW-2022-FP-00935 to the Fire Protection Research Foundation (the research affiliate of NFPA) and is being conducted by researchers from Social Sciences Innovations Corporation (SSIC) with support from the National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) and the North American Fire Training Directors (NAFTD). We appreciate you taking the time to complete this survey. Your feedback is essential to help us understand the structure and needs of volunteer fire departments. Your responses will remain confidential and anonymous.

What: We are conducting state‐level interviews from at least two departments from each state. These interviews (through virtual meetings) are expected to capture formal departments or organizations that represent volunteer firefighters from nearly all 50 states, and diverse community types (rural, suburban, urban) and structures (volunteer, paid‐on‐call and combination). Please go to https://bit.ly/43fI0ZK to sign up for an interview.

Who: All volunteer firefighters, company officers, chief-level officers, organizational leaders are invited to participate.

Reach out to Dr. Brittany Hollerbach at: hollerbach@ndri-usa.org with any questions.

Other Important Info:

Voluntary Participation

Participation is voluntary at all times. You may choose not to participate or to withdraw your participation at any time. Deciding not to participate or choosing to leave the interview or survey will not result in any penalty. You may refuse to answer any questions. If you withdraw from the study, the information you have already provided will be used for the project and remain confidential.

Fees and Expenses

There will be no expenses incurred on your part as a result of participation.

Risks/Inconveniences and Benefits

There are no known risks associated with the survey or interview. There may be questions that are uncomfortable to answer, you may refrain from answering any such questions. We cannot and do not guarantee or promise that you will receive any benefits from this study. Your decision whether to participate in this survey will not affect your employment.

Questions

If you have any questions concerning this project or to report any possible injury that might result from your participation, please feel free to contact Dr. Hollerbach at 913-709-9035. In addition, you may contact Carol Tarzian at (888) 845-4695 to answer any questions about your rights as project participant.

Sarah Lee

Chief Executive Officer

National Volunteer Fire Council

712 H Street, NE, Ste. 1478

Washington, DC 20002

P: 202.887.5700

E: Sarah@nvfc.org

www.nvfc.org