Whats Your Thoughts To Improve Public Relations For The Fire Station

12 Comments

Comment by Dottie Garrett on July 19, 2009 at 11:16am

This year, instead of having just one station open for Firefighting
open house/demo's, we are having ALL six open at the same time.
This will make people more aware of WHERE the all stations are, with
more local neighborhoods contacted.

The county is also having an event COMPETITION for CERT
disaster volunteers the same day.

On a sad note, because of budget cuts, the Sheriff's Dept, is the only
public service represented at the county fair that opened July 10 -
August 9th. No one thought to ask us to represent them. We don't
charge a thing.

We had just completed another "TEEN CERT" program and graduated
another 12 students. These students will be able to help the staff
during a disaster at their schools, as well as their own families or
neighbors. This group had two young men that are now interested
in the Jr.Firefighter/Explorer Program and are starting right away.

Comment by Hondo on July 19, 2009 at 7:45am

Dottie thanks for the nice comments. I think that improving the public image and relations of a dept. especially a volunteer one, kinda go hand in hand with recruitment and retention as well. Ashfire I too saw the article in Parade magazine. I thought that article was put together well for a national publication.

But as far as improving the image and showing the public what we do. Has anyone considered doing an open house/safety day? Lot's of other organizations would be willing to join in and help for the day i.e. Local PD's State PD's. It's gives you the opportunity to show off your station, your members. If you mix in some music and perhaps a BBQ for the day and you have recipe for success. Provide the guests with a brochure that tells about you department, totals calls and type of calls along with a "quick" application and you might get a few to return them. It's a start.

Comment by ashfire on July 5, 2009 at 5:00pm

The article in Parade Magazine is another way to reach the public about the volunteers.
http://www.parade.com/news/2009/07/05-why-they-serve.html

Comment by Dottie Garrett on July 5, 2009 at 4:43pm

I Just saw a WONDERFUL VIDEO ON "Hondo's" FFN profile. It was an
assortment of photo's of the fire dept. set to the song "How to save a
life". It was great! Since most fire stations have web pages now, they
should compile pictures for the public to view when they visit the site.
I've also noted that many web-sites had a guest book to sign in on.
Both really great ideas. Working through the media with updates
would certainly help get the point across to the public.

Comment by ashfire on June 26, 2009 at 12:36pm

I got back from this years state convention and they had a siminar on how to connact the i generation. You can create a website for twittering for people to put in info or breaking news about what you fire company is doing and for people to find out what is happening.
You always see where people have raw video of this or that shot with a cellphone or notebook.

Comment by ashfire on May 21, 2009 at 11:21am

Clowning is a good public relations idea. Is there someone in a fire company who would dress has a firefighter clown and put on a safety show for kids.
We have a guy that has been doing it for years and has fire safety props and has kids do activities to learn safety.
His whole family and even his dogs have helped him with his shows.

Comment by Dottie Garrett on May 21, 2009 at 11:17am

A vehicle wrap, if done VERY tastefully is a good idea. You don't
want it to look like a disneyland ride.
Public participation starts with the children in schools. You get them
hooked good and they will nag their parents to no end to attend
your next expo.@your firestation . Then you get the parents hooked
by showing them how they can help their families to be safe in a
disaster through their training in CERT.(The child in everyone always wanted to be a firefighter or police officer) A citizen's fire academy that
shows what the dept. is all about also gets the interest up.

Comment by ashfire on May 21, 2009 at 10:54am

One idea I have seen in one area is a FD support vehicle and a city bus done with a vehicle wrap that has promotion info on.
Its like having a traveling billboard.
The support vehicle is a large cargo van which is used like a canteen support vehilce and has recruitment info on it with pictures of scenes and fire personnel.
The bus has the type of wrap that allows the passengers to see out and the exterior is the ad info.

Comment by Dottie Garrett on May 13, 2009 at 12:21am

Ashfire mentioned CERT. Excellent idea. The Battalion Chief just swore
in 28 more trained CERT volunteers last Saturday. Prior to graduating,
we held a S & R and had triage performed, using a 100 mobil home unit
park as our training area. We madeup the victims for special effects.
It was great.

Comment by Dottie Garrett on May 13, 2009 at 12:08am

One way to really get your citizen "taxpayers" interested in the fire
department is to show them what you do. Every year our fire department
has an OPEN HOUSE. They invite the public, set up bleachers and have
a program presentation. They show off all their firefighting skills.
RIT,jaws of life etc... They also invite other city department to display
a table (Historical Society, Boy Scouts etc.) Offer food & drinks for a
small price, sell t-shirts etc.

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