Volunteer Firefighter Training: Smarter Solutions That Work

Training Smarter: What New Research Tells Us About Volunteer Recruitment — and What to Do About It

📌 Key Takeaway: A landmark 2026 study confirms that training isn’t the barrier to volunteer recruitment; the wrong training, delivered the wrong way, is. Here’s what the data says, and how your department can act on it.

The Myth That Won’t Go Away

Every chief knows the sting of losing a promising recruit because life simply got in the way. For years, the fire service has blamed rigid training requirements for dwindling rosters and short-staffed shifts. The volunteer fire service has long blamed training requirements for its recruitment and retention struggles. It’s a familiar refrain at any gathering of fire service leaders: “We can’t get new volunteers because there’s too much training.” But a landmark new study says that narrative is wrong, and the real answer points directly to how we train, not how much.

What the Research Actually Says

The NFPA Research Foundation, in partnership with the North American Fire Training Directors and the National Volunteer Fire Council, recently released Understanding the Role of Training in Volunteer Firefighter Recruitment and Retention, the most comprehensive study of its kind to date. Funded through a FEMA Assistance to Firefighters Grant, the research gathered more than 2,000 survey responses from across the country, with a particular focus on departments serving communities under 2,500 people, roughly 45% of all U.S. fire departments.

The findings are clear: training is not the barrier. The wrong training, delivered the wrong way, is.

The study identifies four principles that make training work for volunteers:

Relevant and modular — departments should train only on skills that match their actual risks and resources
Hands-on and immersive — scenario-based and engaging, not passive classroom sit-and-listen
Locally accessible — long drives to state academies are a proven disincentive for busy volunteers
Led by skilled local instructors who know their community and can create an engaging environment

How Action Training Systems’ Delivers on All Four

At Action Training Systems, these principles aren’t new ideas; they’re the foundation of how we’ve built our products for decades. We also know that “locally accessible” means meeting your department’s specific technology infrastructure. Whether you use our interactive online LMS, stream video to the station, or need physical media like PowerPoint presentations, DVDs, or USB drives for rural areas with limited connectivity, our content adapts to your environment. Our catalog is designed to meet departments wherever they are, from getting a new support member contributing in weeks to developing a fully certified Firefighter I & II.

For Departments Training to Full Certification: Firefighter I & II

Our Firefighter I & II series, 33 titles aligned with NFPA 1010, delivers comprehensive skills development from entry-level through advanced operational roles. The modular structure means your department can select only the titles relevant to your hazards, apparatus, and community. No aerial ladder? Skip it. Tanker operations are a daily reality? Prioritize it.

Members build toward full certification on a timeline that fits their lives, not a rigid academy schedule. Titles are available for online streaming, so a new recruit can complete foundational coursework on their own schedule before showing up to hands-on skills practice. This flipped classroom approach makes the most of everyone’s limited time at the station.

Explore the Firefighter I & II Series →

For Departments Deploying New Members Quickly: Fire Operation Support

Our Fire Operation Support series addresses the Support Person role formalized in NFPA 1010, Chapter 5 — a pathway for community members to contribute meaningfully to operations outside the hazard area without requiring a full Firefighter I commitment.

The 12-title series covers:

Communications
Personal Protective Equipment
Scene Safety & Traffic Control
Hose & Hydrant Operations
Respiratory Protection
Scene Lighting & Utility Shutdown
Equipment Use, Cleaning & Inspection & Apparatus

Like our Firefighter I & II content, the Fire Operation Support series is available for online streaming, letting new support personnel complete initial training independently, at home, on their own schedule, and arrive at the station ready to practice skills rather than sit through lecture.

Explore the Fire Operation Support Series →

The Right Training Mix for Your Department

Whether your department is building toward full Firefighter I & II certification or getting support personnel on scene in the near term, the principle is the same: train on what matters, skip what doesn’t, and make it accessible where your people are.

The research has spoken. Now it’s time to act on it.

Take the Next Step

Visit action-training.com to explore our full catalog, preview titles online, and find the right training mix for your department. Not sure where to start? Reach out to our team, we’ll help you build a training plan that gets your volunteers on scene faster, safer, and more confident.