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BY CAROLINE FRISBY, STAFF WRITER

Editor’s note: The full transcript of the volunteer firefighter shortage video by Caroline Frisby is provided below. 

At the Public Safety Headquarters in Fairfax County, the Volunteer Fire Commision is facing a shortage of volunteer firefighters, along with other stations nationwide.

Commision Chairman and Fire Chief of Dunn Loring Fire Department Shawn Stokes, explains that in Fairfax, “the minimum level of service, which is very high, is covered by that career staff, so if volunteers don’t show up, that service still gets provided.” 

The fire service in Fairfax County used to be run by all volunteers; however, in 1949, all departments were run by career firefighters, while volunteers served as support. With the extra support, firefighters can provide better service to the community. 

The shortage of people volunteering stem from issues with recruitment and retention.

William Richmond, a volunteer firefighter EMT and the volunteer chief at Annandale Fire

Department, says that good leadership helps the fire department operate effectively, but the fluctuation of volunteers continues to be a roadblock for progress.

“Sometimes it depends on the economy. A lot of it is just personal dynamics…” said Richmond. 

Other people in the fire service believe that volunteers are leaving because the process has 

changed. “When I joined, you could be a firefighter EMT in six months,” Watkins Gray, volunteer firefighter at Franconia Station 5, said. “Now everything takes almost two years.” 

“People have busier lives, so it’s hard to commit that kind of time,” Gray added. 

John Gutsmiedl, a training officer at Centerville Fire Department, says that fire departments are having difficulty retaining young people. “A lot of people get started and then move on as other priorities come up in their life.”

To address recruitment and retention problems, fire departments have created programs to improve their leadership training and how the departments are managed. 

According to Gray, Fairfax County offers a retirement-based program where volunteers can earn a certain monthly stipend for working a certain number of hours. Additionally, the county offers free EMT Training. Richmond suggests increasing awareness of the fire service. 

“You need to tell the community what it is you do. You need to make it clear that if you lose your volunteer department in a very small community, then the response times will not be very good because they’ll have to respond from another town, Richmond said.” 

“It’s a question of what kind of community do you want to live in. You want to have a community where people help each other out,” Richmond said. 

BY CAROLINE FRISBY, STAFF WRITER

Editor’s note: This video was submitted for a class assignment prior to submission to Fourth Estate. The use of the term “GMU News” is not representative of Fourth Estate or any Mason related networks with a similar name.

Caroline Frisby: 12099 Government Center Parkway is home to the Public Safety Headquarters in Fairfax County. Here, the Volunteer Fire Commission faces challenges regarding the shortage of volunteer firefighters across the United States. The chairman of this commission, Shawn Stokes, explains that Fairfax is not like other places where…

Stokes: “…volunteers don’t show up, the fire truck does not go out the door. In Fairfax County, the minimum level of service, which is very high, is covered by that career staff, so if volunteers don’t show up, that service still gets provided.” 

Frisby: The situation in Fairfax is one of a kind. As of 1949, all departments are run by career firefighters, but volunteers are there to support the system. Additional units placed in service allow the fire service to be more robust and better serve the needs of the community. Nevertheless, Fairfax County is still facing challenges. Watkins Gray believes that volunteers are leaving because the training process has changed. When he joined, he became a firefighter EMT within six months.

Gray: “Now the process takes almost two years to do everything, so that’s part of the drawback of joining now. People have busier lives, so it’s hard to commit that kind of time.” 

Frisby: Others, like William Richmond, acknowledge that the flow of volunteers will fluctuate. 

Richmond: “I’m not sure why that is. Sometimes it has to do with the economy. A lot of it is just personal dynamics.” 

Frisby: However, if there is good leadership, fire departments will run strong. That’s why Fairfax County has created programs to improve their leadership training and how the departments are managed. The county also offers financial benefits, such as a retirement-based program and free EMT training for volunteers. Even so, the future of the fire department rests on community involvement. To William Richmond…

Richmond: “It’s a question of what kind of community do you want to live in. You want to have a community where people will help each other out.” 

Frisby: At the end of the day, true heroes do not wear capes. Instead, they can be found at your local fire station, wearing helmets and carrying fire hoses. I’m Caroline Frisby, reporting for GMU News.