FireRescue1 launches What Firefighters Want 2024 survey

The newest state-of-the-industry survey sharpens the focus on fire department leadership

January 19, 2024 10:24 AM

By EMS1 Staff

FRISCO, Texas — FireRescue1 launched its annual What Firefighters Want survey on Wednesday, with this year’s theme focused on strengthening fire department leadership at all levels, plus how firefighters are taking ownership of their career development even amid a perceived lack of leadership at their agency.

The survey will be used to inform FireRescue1’s state-of-the-industry annual report, sponsored by ImageTrend, which will be published in July 2024 and feature expert analysis from fire service leaders.

TAKE THE WHAT FIREFIGHTERS WANT SURVEY HERE.

Janelle Foskett, FireRescue1 editor-in-chief, explained why the team chose to sharpen the focus on fire department leadership for the 2024 survey:

“Leadership was a clear concern among firefighters who took previous What Firefighters Want surveys. Poor agency leadership was deemed the #1 most stressful part of the job in 2023, and it ranked among the top three least-satisfying aspects of the job both years. Seeing this issue rise to the top of firefighter concerns two years in a row underscored the need for a more detailed understanding of how firefighters view their supervisors and fire chiefs. I am hopeful that leaders at all levels will use the survey results as an opportunity for self-reflection, and that firefighters will consider how to level up their own leadership skills even when those around them fail to do the same.”

The What Firefighters Want project is supported by the International Public Safety Data Institute (IPSDI), which helps with survey development and analysis efforts, and the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC), which offers promotional support.

TAKE THE WHAT FIREFIGHTERS WANT SURVEY HERE.