The Financial Impacts of COVID-19 on the Fire Service

The fire service in the United States is beginning to see the financial impacts of the coronavirus pandemic, some of which include pay cuts, terminations, and retirements to prevent the possibility of layoffs.’

FireRescue1 recently conducted a survey to understand the types of financial challenges that fire departments are facing during the pandemic. In this piece, we’re going to provide an overview of the results of the survey. Take a look.

Respondent Breakdown

The survey’s respondents reflect a wide range of personnel from the fire service, from different departments:

· 28 percent of the respondents were fire chiefs, 24 percent were firefighters, 19 percent were company officers, 15 percent were chief officers, and 14 percent identified themselves as another rank.

· 41 percent of the members represented volunteer departments, 33 percent represent career departments, and 26 percent represent combination departments.

· 58 percent of the respondents worked for departments with 11-50 members, 16 percent of the respondents worked for departments with 51-100 members, 14 percent of the respondents worked for departments with 101-500 members, 8 percent worked for departments with over 500 members, and 4 percent worked for departments with ten or fewer members.

Survey Results

The measure of the financial impact on fire departments is determined, in part, by the breakdown of their funding sources. According to the survey, the results are as follows:

· General taxes: 50 percent

· Property tax/assessment/fee mix: 27 percent

· Fundraising: 13 percent

· Other sources: 9 percent

· Grants: 1 percent

Survey Responses

These are the responses to the questions asked in the survey:

· Do you expect staffing reductions due to the economic impact of the pandemic: 26 percent yes; 49 percent no; and 25 percent unsure.

· Do you expect the department to eliminate/cut all or some non-response services: 6 percent yes, all, 43 percent, yes, some; 38 percent no; and 13 percent unsure.

· Do you expect the department to delay the hiring of new staff members (paid or volunteer firefighters): 37 percent yes; 43 percent yes; and 20 percent unsure.

· Have you witnessed a change in the general staffing response due to the pandemic: 9 percent yes, more members responding; 40 percent yes, fewer members responding; 18 percent no; 2 percent unsure; and 31 percent N/A.

· Types of travel that you expect the department to cancel or limit (all that apply): 71 percent national conferences; 71 percent state conferences; 62 percent national training events; 59 percent local or regional training events; and 12 percent other.

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