August 7, 2012
To combat the firefighter recruitment/retention problems in South Carolina, an “Assistance to Firefighters Grant” (AFG) award has been given to the South Carolina State Firefighters’ Association (SCSFA). The $871,000 Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) grant award will be allocated during a four year period. “This is an exciting day for South Carolina’s fire service,” Joe Palmer, SCSFA director said “Although active for the past two years, this grant funding will allow the work of our Volunteer Recruitment and Retention Committee to expand and will also allow the Association to create partnerships and develop programs.” To guide the efforts, the SCSFA will utilize existing committee members and hire a full-time Recruitment and Retention Coordinator. The coordinator will manage the program, partner with universities to assist with research, as well as coordinate efforts with the S.C. Division of Fire and Life Safety, which includes the State Fire Marshal and the State Fire Academy. The criticality of this effort is to establish a baseline needs assessment and establish programs that will be sustainable in our state beyond the grant period. “The South Carolina Fire Incident Data Reporting System reveals that 90.6 percent of all incidents in South Carolina are in residential properties,” Shane Ray, South Carolina State Fire Marshal said. “Of that number, 73.9 percent are in one and two family dwellings. The needs assessment proposed in this grant will allow the SCSFA to analyze deployment data by fire department types. Establishing this baseline will allow us to focus our recruitment and retention efforts on targeted areas by region.” In addition, based on anecdotal estimates of South Carolina rural fire departments, it is estimated that less than 25 percent of fire departments deploy resources in compliance with NFPA 1720. “This grant will allow us to not only determine our needs, but to communicate them and create plans for compliance throughout our state,” Palmer said. “We appreciate the support of the grants program and also the efforts of our Recruitment and Retention committee,” Billy Gibson, SCSFA president said. “The opportunities that will be created by this investment in our fire service will make a difference that lasts long beyond the four grant years.” For more information about the SCSFA, visit www.scfirefighters.org. ###
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