NFPA 1010: The Support Person Position

Increasing Volunteerism in the Fire Service

Faced with declining volunteer numbers, innovative solutions are essential. The consolidation NFPA 1010 also introduced the “support person” position for emergency operations into the standard. Industry professionals believe this role can provide crucial support to volunteer and combination fire departments.

The role offers a practical approach to address some of the operational needs of volunteer fire departments. Individuals in the support role will be trained for non-hazardous duties, can assist with communication, hazard identification, equipment maintenance and inspection, rehabilitation, and hose operations. This maximizes resources, enhances safety, and allows trained firefighters to focus on critical tasks.

Overcoming Recruitment & Retention Barriers

This new “support” role directly addresses specific challenges faced by volunteer fire departments in recruitment and retention:

Extensive Training Requirements: The significant training hours required for Firefighter I certification often deter potential volunteers with time constraints.
Delayed On-Scene Participation: The extended training period before on-scene involvement can diminish volunteer interest.
Lack of Public Awareness: Many community members are unaware of the volunteer-based nature of their fire department and the need for support.
Physical Demands: The physical requirements of Firefighter I certification can exclude potential volunteers.

Key Benefits of the Support Person Role

Reduced Training Hours and Flexible Physical Requirements:

This role requires significantly less training, allowing volunteers to contribute to emergency operations sooner
Earlier involvement can aid in retention and interest as well as foster a sense of belonging and satisfaction
It can create a foundation for continued learning and certification towards Firefighter I if desired
Flexible physical requirements broaden the pool of potential volunteers
- Not everyone needs to be as fit as a firefighter

Expanded Skill Sets:

Your community is a wealth of skills and resources
Attracting individuals with diverse skills enhances a department’s capabilities
- Technical services
- Tradespeople
- Veterans
- Nursing and medical skills
- Administrative support
- Marketing support
It’s not all about firefighting, it’s about helping people

Community Engagement

Visible community member involvement during an emergency response raises awareness of volunteer positions and needs. It also demonstrates that firefighting certification is not a prerequisite for contribution.

Support Person Implementation – Resources & Benefits

Despite the relative newness of the NFPA 1010 ‘support person’ position, implementing it offers significant advantages for fire departments, including addressing volunteer shortages, enhancing operational efficiency, and strengthening community engagement. To support departments in this process, valuable educational resources are already available.

Educational Resources For Fire Operation Support Role

The National Volunteer Fire Association – resources for fire departments looking for help with marketing, recruitment, and retention.

Jones & Bartlett Learning Public Safety Group, in partnership with the NFPA, IAFC, and NVFC, has released “The Fundamentals of Firefighter Skills for First Responders, First Edition.” This resource aligns with or exceeds the job performance requirements outlined in Chapter 5: Support Person of NFPA 1010.

Action Training Systems’ Fire Operation Support series – A Complete Package

Action Training Systems has developed a 12-title series, “Fire Operation Support,” specifically designed to provide the knowledge and skills required for the support person role as defined in NFPA 1010, Chapter 5. This series focuses on working in non-hazardous atmospheres and protected work areas and presents the skills and information your members need.

Departments can access Action Training Systems’ Fire Operation Support series through several versatile formats: DVD, USB, and streaming. This allows for implementation in flipped classrooms, blended learning environments, or individual self-study using our online interactive courses.

To maximize instructor effectiveness, we provide a full suite of instructor support tools, including customizable PowerPoints, textbook correlation guides, detailed Facilitator Guides with lesson plans and suggested skills practice, and comprehensive test and quiz banks, featuring FITS quiz banks.