Volunteer Firefighter Recruitment and Retention: What Actually Works in 2026

In 1984, the United States had approximately 884,000 volunteer firefighters. Today, that number is below 650,000 and dropping. Meanwhile, call volumes have increased dramatically. The result is fewer people responding to more calls, with predictable effects on response times, member burnout, and community safety.

This is not a someday problem. It is a right-now problem.

Why People Do Not Volunteer Anymore

The time commitment has changed. Modern volunteer departments require significantly more training hours than 30 years ago. Between NFPA 1001 certification, EMT classes, continuing education, and mandatory drills, a new volunteer can easily commit 300 to 500 hours in their first year before they ever respond to a call.

Work schedules have changed. The volunteer fire service was built on an economy where people worked nearby and could leave work to respond. Remote work, gig economy jobs, and longer commutes mean fewer people are home during the day.

The old guard culture drives people away. Many volunteer departments have a culture problem. New members who show up eager to learn are hazed, ignored, or given the worst assignments for months before being accepted. Many quit before they ever get through training.

What Is Working for Recruitment

Social media is essential. The departments that are successfully recruiting Gen Z and millennial members are doing it on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube, not with a sign outside the station. Short videos showing actual training, day-in-the-life content from current young members, and posts highlighting the skills you learn are what drive interest.

Flexible commitment levels make a huge difference. Not everyone can respond to calls at 2 AM. Departments with the best recruitment offer tiered commitment. Full active members respond to calls and attend drills. Daytime only members are available during business hours. Drill and support members attend training and help at scenes. Administrative support handles fundraising, social media, and events. Explorer and cadet programs create a pipeline of future members.

Removing barriers to entry matters. Is your application available online? Is it clear about requirements and timeline? Do you respond within a week? Do your recruitment materials show people who look like your community?

Paying something helps. Per-call stipends of 15 to 25 dollars, training reimbursement, or LOSAP retirement programs signal that the department values members' time.

What Is Working for Retention

Assign every new member a senior mentor. Not to haze them but to guide them. The single biggest predictor of whether a new volunteer stays past year one is whether they feel included.

Training needs to not suck. If your drills consist of the same three evolutions recycled every month, your members are bored. Training should be varied, hands-on, relevant to what you actually run, and flexible with online study options for knowledge components.

Recognition matters. Public recognition at annual banquets, years-of-service awards, social media shoutouts after big calls, and family appreciation events. Remember, their families are volunteering too.

Fix the culture. If your department has a hazing problem, a clique problem, or a resistance-to-change problem, new members will leave. Culture change starts at the top. Officers set the tone.

Manage burnout. In a small department, the same 5 to 8 members respond to everything. They burn out and quit. Track individual response counts. Encourage time off without guilt. Address mental health proactively.

Looking for training that works for volunteer schedules? First Due Co. delivers daily 5-minute drills, exam prep, and scenario training that members can do on their own time. Training that fits your life at firstdueco.com.