The next-gen force

A national recruitment push from IAFC is targeting Gen Z and millennials in areas that rely heavily on volunteer firefighters.

• Their pitch: Firefighting is a "hustle worth having" — hoping to attract younger recruits looking to "take part in something bigger than themselves."

What they're saying: "I have the conversation with friends of mine all the time who work for corporate America, and they feel like they're not having an impact," Jordan Cramer, South Strabane Township chief of fire and emergency services, tells Axios.

• Cramer's department transitioned to a hybrid model a few years ago, and now has a reliable 56-member roster of firefighters — more than a third of whom are paid.
• Cramer now travels the country coaching departments on how to bolster recruiting — something he was motivated to do after hearing older firefighters speak disparagingly about younger generations.

"When you hear people talk about Gen Z ... it's that they don't want to achieve anything," Cramer, who's a millennial, tells Axios.

• Cramer dismisses the stereotype, saying many Gen Zers are looking for rewarding ways to help their communities and find a sense of belonging.

The bottom line: Without sustained recruitment and retention, the current volunteer system may not hold.

• "We need to plan for every possible future," says Andrew DeBrunner, of the Office of the State Fire Commissioner. "Creative thinking and meaningful changes … can make an impact and help right the ship."

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