After years serving both at the department level and as a rating inspector for the North Carolina Office of State Fire Marshal, I’ve worked with fire departments from across the state. That perspective—seeing both the inside of individual departments and the bigger countywide picture—has shown me not just the strengths that we built but also the challenges that we still face.
Departments have much to be proud of, but it’s time to take a fresh, honest look at how we plan and work. By facing the long-standing obstacles—turf, power and politics—we can focus on what truly serves the community. We must think more like a fire protection system. Change is coming quickly, but we’ll be stronger if we face it together.
Volunteers remain vital, but the system is strained
Volunteers remain the backbone of fire protection in many communities, bringing dedication, skill and a powerful sense of service. However, their numbers are shrinking, while calls and responsibilities grow.
Today’s departments are true all-hazards agencies—responding to medical calls, vehicle accidents, hazmat incidents, wildfires, natural disasters and even active-shooter incidents. The mission has broadened, bringing more training requirements, higher costs and greater demands on time, which are things that volunteers only have so much to give.
Decades ago, volunteers mainly handled fires and the occasional automobile crash. Now, departments face more complex incidents, from high-voltage battery fires to large-scale wildfires. Meeting these demands requires new tactics, tools and training, none of which come cheaply. If we want to keep pace, we must do more than respond together; we must plan together.
From responding as a team to planning alone
When the pager goes off, we show what teamwork looks like. Departments work side by side, often seamlessly, to control chaos. Automatic aid works because we trust each other in the moment.
After the fire is out, that teamwork often stops. Departments go back to making decisions in isolation—responding as partners but planning apart. It’s been this way for generations, with each district focused inward. The better perspective requires us to ask: What do our departments really need to serve this area well? How can we meet those needs together, not just for one district but for all of the districts that we serve every day?
Honest self-assessment: A step toward efficiency
Self-assessment isn’t about pointing fingers. Most departments, particularly those that are run by volunteers, already are stretched thin. Calls, training, maintenance, fundraising and budgets leave little time for reflection. However, if we carve out time to plan together, we might find ways to share the load and improve service across the board.
Honest self-assessment asks questions:
- Are we maintaining specialized equipment that another department already has?
- Are we making purchases that are based on real need or on tradition and appearance?
- Are we planning based on outdated assumptions?
These aren’t easy conversations, but they’re necessary if we want sustainable, effective fire service.
The value and challenge of self-assessment
Done honestly, self-assessment uncovers blind spots, reduces waste and guides smarter planning. It strengthens collaboration, boosts morale and earns community trust. It also can surface uncomfortable truths, such as unused equipment and outdated practices. Sometimes, the biggest obstacle is relationships, not resources.
Some department leaders don’t trust one another, often because of history rather than present-day reality. The first step toward change is a willingness to sit down and talk openly. The short-term discomfort is worth the long-term gains.
Risk of mismatched departments
Automatic aid means that we depend on each other more than ever, yet inconsistencies persist:
- Different hose sizes and incompatible fittings.
- Mismatched nozzles.
- SCBAs that can’t be shared.
These differences slow down operations and create safety risks. If we’re going to work together on the fireground, we must plan and train together before we get there.
Honoring tradition, leading with vision
Most volunteer departments were built by people who had little more than determination and a desire to serve. They created something from nothing. That history matters, and we should honor it. However, those founders didn’t build departments to protect turf; they built them to protect people.
Respecting the past while building for the future allows us to move forward with purpose. Honoring that legacy gives us a strong foundation for making changes that will help us to better serve our communities.
Look inward, plan forward
The future of rural fire protection will depend not just on what equipment that we buy but on how honestly that we assess ourselves, how intentionally we plan together and how willing we are to think beyond our boundaries.
While honoring our history, let’s serve with pride and have the courage to ask difficult questions, not because we failed, but because we want to do even better.
Let’s look inward, not with fear, but with purpose.
Let’s plan forward, not alone, but together.
