The IAFF is giving affiliates the resources they need to secure the minimum staffing that communities and fire fighters depend on. The union has launched its new “Securing Minimum Staffing” toolkit – a comprehensive guide that helps Locals and state and provincial associations push for staffing levels that meet established deployment benchmarks in NFPA 1710.
“Across North America, too many departments are jeopardizing public safety by sending understaffed crews to respond to structure fires and other emergencies. Fire fighters will always answer the call, but we can’t properly protect our communities unless we have the staffing we need to respond safely and effectively,” said General President Edward Kelly.
The toolkit provides clear guidance on achieving safe staffing levels, including extensive research demonstrating the risks of understaffing fire departments. This data comes from multiple organizations that have studied the differences in fire company sizes, including the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), the Fire Service Research Institute (FSRI), and the NFPA.
Across North America, too many departments are jeopardizing public safety by sending understaffed crews to respond to structure fires and other emergencies. Fire fighters will always answer the call, but we can’t properly protect our communities unless we have the staffing we need to respond safely and effectively.
General President Edward Kelly
NFPA 1710 is considered the industry standard in emergency response, setting minimum requirements for crew sizes and response times. IAFF affiliates across the U.S. and Canada continue to press elected officials to implement the standard to improve public safety.
NFPA 1710 recommends a minimum of four fire fighters for single-family, low-hazard structure fires, with staffing requirements increasing as buildings grow larger or more complex. Yet many departments are still sending just two or three fire fighters per engine to the fire ground – putting both the public and fire fighters at risk.
That’s why the new “Securing Minimum Staffing” toolkit also includes a “4 Fire Fighters 4 Your Safety” campaign for affiliate leaders. Members can find tools to announce their campaign, build support in their communities, debunk fire department staffing myths, and secure safe staffing by working with elected officials to enact real policy changes.
Both a U.S. and Canadian version of the toolkit are available to ensure affiliates have materials tailored to their environment. The Canadian version includes content specific to the Canadian fire service, including a comparison between NFPA 1710 and 1720.
Affiliate leaders can access the toolkit by logging into iaff.org and visiting the Leader Resources page.
