The fire service needs to develop and sustain public/private partnerships
The Great Recession and its aftershock have made fire departments more dependent on public/private partnerships (PPPs).
Such affiliations and combinations can be beneficial, said National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) Chairman Philip Stittleburg, noting that the NVFC encourages departments and companies to work together to form mutually beneficial partnerships. Stittleburg pointed to Rosenbauer America’s support for local volunteer departments as one example of a successful partnership.
“Departments are struggling to secure the resources and funding to continue to provide the level of protection their communities need,” he said. “Many businesses have the means to help these local departments, and in return, the departments can continue to protect the community and these businesses from emergencies of all kinds.”
Fire-service members often know business leaders in their communities who are supportive of public-safety needs. Stittleburg said chiefs should work within their departments to identify possible connections to pursue and then reach out to companies.
Read the entire story from FIRE CHIEF, our sister publication.
