This is a very interesting thread, & as a volunteer RFS (Rural Fire Service) firefighter from the other side of the world (Australia), I find it interesting how much we share common challenges (like funding, medical first responder queries, equipment shortfalls, protocols ....etc.)
In our state NSW, all RFS vehicles carry an AED & comprehesive First Aid Kits, primarily because of the risk to firefighters in demanding operating environments (heat, stress, physical demands, injury/ trauma...etc.), with most of our RFS brigade crew qualified/certified in First Aid - whilst we are not designated medical first responders, because of distance & remoteness of incidents quite often the RFS brigade crew will be first on the scene for quite sometime & therefore need to initiate proactive care in a critical medical situation (often trauma from vehicle or farm accidents) including where required the use of a AED.
'BranchChipper' raises extremely valid points, however our local operating protocols/relationships allow us to work closer, rather than 'compete' with other agencies to improve response, & we actively deploy initiatives to develop our skills, inter-agency harmony & also raise our 'profile' to increase awareness/capability/funding in our area:-
1. Working with other local emergency services (EMS/Ambulance/Police & other paid fulltime agencies, & other emergency volunteer organisations like our SES - State Emergency Services) in training exercises/contingency emergency planning (fire/flood/evacuation..etc), convening joint incident debreifs & regularly supporting each others meetings/individual organisations training exercises
2. Community Engagement/Awareness
- Convening street meetings for community education (held on landowners properties for near neighbours to develop their 'plan')
- Assisting with individual property risk assessments/fire plans/hazard reductions..etc
- Activities in local schools, some brigades have 'cadet' programmes (for future recruits)
- Representation, displays & fund raising at all local fairs, fetes & elections..& a Xmas Santa fire truck run through the town...etc (a strategically placed fire truck draws attention anywhere !! ), & bi-annual RFS station open days
- Educating on what we do/how we can serve the community (e.g Fire, Flood, Disaster planning/recovery/Communications)
- Of our RFS skills/training: from the general public knowledge of Bush/Village firefighting to MVA/Incident & rescue response/Chainsaw use & Tree Felling/First Aid/BA qualifications to Communication/Mapping/Catering & Logistics .......etc
- Local Business: supporting their activities/trade days & public acknowledgment of their funding support & pledges..etc
All probably sounds like a lot, but somehow from our brigades c.20 members of which maybe 13 are regularly active, it gets done.
I'm unsure of how volunteer rural firefighting works in the US & other countries. Over here in NSW it is a state based organisation (currently funded fom state govenrment & insurance company contributions) that supplies the basic standard equipment like trucks/PPE/basic truck fitout & develops training competencies (deployed at a local zone level), there's also paid fulltime zone managers/coordinators/admin (whom I'm sure would like to think they add value....) , historically stations are mostly tin sheds having been funded locally (albiet with varying degrees of state contribution), & individual brigades raise funds for additional/ specific equipment locally.
As for the RFS volunteers, we're all unpaid/no oncall retainer/no tax concessions for out of pocket expenses...etc... so we do it free for community service.......& volunteer recruitment & retention is as challenging a securing sufficent regular funding(except after a major disaster when all the politicians try to cover their past oversights with "one off" cash injections...)
Apologies if some of this was a little off the subject, but hopefully of interest to others engaged in volunteer fire/emergency services