Three years into the What Firefighters Want project, surveying firefighters across the United States and Canada, one issue continues to emerge as a pain point: poor agency leadership.
FireRescue1’s 2024 state-of-theindustry survey revealed some alarming statistics related to fire department leadership:
- 76% of respondents reported concerns about their fire department leadership
- 49% indicated that poor agency leadership has a high impact on retention
- 33% have considered leaving their department because of the fire chief
But it’s certainly not all bad news. Respondents also highlighted how their fire chiefs and other officers alike excel, providing a roadmap for leaders to emulate.
I encourage you to review this special edition exploring respondents’ perceptions of their leaders’ values and priorities, always with an eye toward continuous improvement, not only for yourself but the members who look to you for guidance and mentorship. And visit the What Firefighters Want resource page for additional analysis, including first-person perspectives on how fire chiefs and other supervisors can better serve their agencies, guidance for seeking professional development, and much more.
Fill out the form to download the free digital edition.
Next, register for the What Firefighters Want in 2024 webinar:
