Over the years we all have seen memberships grow and decrease. Since the late 70's we have had the woman or wife figure go from being a home maker to having to obtain full time employment in the work force. Throughout the coming years the fire service has suffered immensely through the change in the American economy. Now heavily dependant on two incomes to survive, it leaves far less time for a member of a household to respond to calls, and the training regiment required of a firefighter.
Ever changing with the economy was the ever changing grant process. Face it, we as firefighter's try to shake every tree for a little money for equipment and to keep replacing the apparatus we use to stay current. The ability to start a pay per call system is always a great thought, but the absolute lack of grants available is terrible. Tax districts can't afford to raise taxes beyond the tax payers means, or your faced with even further mutiny by them.
Smaller fire departments with smaller budgets tend to have a lot of family bases in them. Family history in a particular FD is common. Without the influx of the new family into the fire service I fear that the ever growing lack of interest into volunteer firefighting is going to lead to the demise of smaller companies without the tax basis to impliment the programs to retain and sustain the membership rolls.
What we need is a course of action. Politicians all say there are plenty of grants available. As well this is correct, there are a lot of flaws. The Assistance to Firefighters grants when they first came out were abundant in money, and also applications. The application process was relitively easy but long, but in the long run there was money to go around. As always in our REACTIVE political society, we (the firefighters) took a hit by congress and every year are faced with less money, and a growing list of applicants. We all try for the money to improve our safety through new PPE, SCBA, Thermal Imagry Camera's, or apparatus. Again, methods of getting and retaining volunteers is left on a back burner. The extra grant requirements of "match grants" where you match a percentage of the grant you are applying for if you receive it is a great idea, and well embraced. (by companies that have the money to match the funds) Lets face it if a company has the abilty to match $200,000 towards a huge grant, maybe the grant was better suited for a less fortunate company.
In closing, I think we as firefighters need to do something about the issue. It isn't fair that we put our lives, our family's sanity, and our job's on hold to protect the lives and property of the residents and visitors of our respective locations, and in turn take budget cuts, no funding, and no way to get new volunteers or retain them. Congress needs to specifically address the issue, to ensure we as firefighters have EVERY tool we need, EVERY opportunity to enhance our memberships, and EVERY opportunity to ensure these members have a reason to stay. It may take time and money, but where will America be without volunteer firefighters?