In this episode of FireRescue1’s “What’s YOUR Problem?” – part of our What Firefighters Want special coverage series – Deputy Chief Billy Goldfeder answers this reader question:
I’ve been on the job for 20 years and it’s nothing like when I first started. We are called out to everything now. I get it, it’s part of the job, but the call volume is ramped up and now the OT feels endless. When am I supposed to find time to do anything other than just sleep on my days off? My mental health and family life are struggling.
Check out Chief Goldfeder’s response, which includes these stats from the What Firefighters Want survey:
- 94% of respondents said their FD has experienced staffing challenges in the past 3 years
- 52% said their department does NOT have a strong recruitment plan in place
- 87% said the scope of the job has increased since they began working in the fire service
- 46% of respondents are considering leaving their current FD
- 42% are considering leaving the fire service all together due to their stress
Visit the What Firefighters Want resource center for some additional content about what other firefighters have to say about stress and staffing challenges.
