Abstract
The US fire department has been a core aspect within the societal framework. With diverse benefits, the fire service industry has been pivotal towards mitigation of fires and saving lives. However, the prospects of challenges emanating from sustenance of operations within a financially stable environment are an aspect of concern. Thus, there is a need for extensive evaluation of the prevailing financial challenges and the approaches that are feasible towards sustenance of proper operations. Through extensive analysis of the fire service industry, proper data and policies for inculcation will prevail towards sustaining effective service delivery. Financial availability is imperative within the industry since it will ensure quality service delivery and proper equipment to the various staffs within the industry. Thus, this paper focuses on the analysis of the financial challenges within US’s fire service industry.
Introduction
Background
The prospect of abating the financial challenges facing the fire department has become an aspect of concern among the diverse stakeholders within the industry. Bennett (2012) affirms that a survey undertaken by the National League of cities revealed that 9 out of 10 cities are not capable to meet the financial obligation of the diverse fire department staff (Dalton 2013). In the year 2008, the comprehensive research undertaken by NLC revealed that majority of the fire departments could not meet the financial needs of its diverse staff (Dalton 2013). Thus, it requires extensive input of the various stakeholders to ensure a current skilled and resourceful fire department to sustain a proper performance mandate. The inculcation of a plausible performance mandate which is mutually beneficial to the various stakeholders is imperative towards an effective environment for service delivery. Hence, the research mandate is construed towards the evaluation of significance and financial hurdles facing the fire department across US.
Literature review
The findings conducted by vast public and private sector organizations have been remarkable and negative regarding the fire department’s financial acumen and resource towards extensive service delivery. As such, majority of the findings reveal that the fiscal condition of the diverse cities is within a weak mandate regarding service delivery within the fire emergency or care mandate. Majority of the cities do not possess enough financial strength to meet at least 18 months of the financial needs of its financial departments. As well, from the evaluation of Bennett (2012) financial strength is extensively imperative within the operational mandate of the fire department. Across the various cities, finance is imperative towards ensuring remuneration of its various personnel. Remuneration is imperative towards ensuring highly motivated employees towards the service mandate. Furthermore, through financial strength, the finance department is bound to possess the current and most plausible equipment’s to deliver proper services to the diverse individuals. However, the prevalent issue pertaining to financial strength has become an aspect of comprehensive evaluation among the various stakeholders within the fire emergency service industry. The prospect of inadequate financial resources has become a facet of extensive evaluation of the diverse individuals. Studies conducted by the various public and private sectors have been impactful on the diverse individuals with vested interest in the fire service delivery industry. Furthermore, the findings by NLC show that there prevail developmental hurdles among the various fire departments regarding fire service delivery within an efficient, effective and cost saving mandate. The inculcation of efficiency, effective and cost saving approach within the fire service delivery is imperative approaches towards the sustenance of a plausible industry in meeting public needs. As such, without the inculcation of a plausible service delivery is i9mpactful on the response of the various fire response personnel.
Results
Results emanating from NCL studies and other organizations have been quite negative regarding the financial strength of the diverse fire departments. As such, from the research findings, it has become evident that majority of the financial departments across US are:
- Planning to inculcate hiring freezes
Hiring freezes have become evident among the diverse fire departments across US. As such, from the evaluation of Bennett (2012) it is evident that few fire departments are hiring new personnel. From the research undertaken by Bennett (2012) it is prevalent that 90% of various fire departments across the public and private sector mandate are not hiring more personnel despite the increasing need for personnel emanating from the increasing cases of fire. As such, the freeze in hiring has become an aspect of concern among the diverse stakeholders within the industry. The pivotal inculcation of proper approaches towards enhancing personnel is imperative towards sustaining plausible service delivery.
- Not planning to hire more personnel within their departments
Hiring is not a prevalent facet within the fire service department. Research reveals that revenues within the fire departments have reduced by 17% (Dalton 2013). The significant reduction has ales led to a reduction in the federal funds available to the diverse fire departments. Pundits assert that FEMA assistance emanating from federal funds have significantly reduced. The reduction in the funds available is also evident in the staffing for assistance and emergency response (SAFER) program. The reduction emanates from the reduction in revenues accrued among the various public programs in the diverse states. FEMA in its many years of operation has been imperative towards ensuring proper funding within the fore service delivery. However, since 1960, the prevailing years have revealed a significant reduction in funding evident.
- Cancelling or stalling the various projects to be undertaken
Projects to revamp the fire departments have been stalled across the various cities in US. The reduction Nan the projects to be undertaken have emanated from the reduction in finances available to the fire departments. As such, financial strength, as aforesaid is imperative towards the sustenance of operations. Nonetheless, without the prospect of financial strength, projects are bound not to prevail. Thus, from the examination of the fire industry, it is evident that projects to be undertaken have been stalled significantly due to reduction in finances (Dalton 2013). As such, without the prospect of finances, the stalling of projects has been prevalent. A project to revamp equipment’s within the current mandate, increase staff, equipment’s and so forth has been prevalent. Thus, from the evaluation of Dalton (2013) it is imperative that proper financing prevails for sustainable service delivery.
Discussion
Fire, in US has become a leading cause in property loss. As such, the property loss has been detrimental within the private and public sector. Admittedly, despite the prevailing advances in the fire industry, it has become evident that fires happen anywhere. The national fire protection association reveals that in every 61 seconds, fire happens as compared to the 22 seconds that it takes fir a fire department to respond to the emergency evident. Thus, it is imperative to sustain a faster approach towards sustenance of service delivery. The challenges emanating from financial hurdles require proper evaluation by the diverse fire agencies across US. Without plausible evaluation by the stakeholders, an increase in the time take to ensure proper service delivery in instances that fire emerges is bound to prevail.
Recommendation
Finance is imperative towards proper service delivery within the fire department sector. Without finances, stalling of projects, inadequate staff and less motivated personnel is bound to prevail. Thus, it is imperative that all the stakeholders, mainly the government, invest extensively in ensuring that financial strength is evident.
References
Bennett, L. T. (2012). Fire service law. Upper Saddle River, N.J.: Pearson Prentice Hall.
Dalton, J. (2013). Fire Team USA residential fire sprinkler resources. Washington, D.C. Cengage Brain Publishers
Katz, D. & Kahn, R. (2008).The Social Psychology of Organizations. 2nd ed. London; John
Wiley & Sons
