The goal of the Why I Chose Fire recruitment video is to inform, inspire and motivate qualified, diverse, inclusive, and safe Generation Y individuals to explore and consider a fulfilling career in Fire/EMS.
Future diverse firefighters need role models to whom they can relate. Why I Chose Fire is a six-minute video with interviews that feature men of color and female firefighters and paramedics who love their jobs! Animation and the upbeat song “A Dream” by the rap artist Common speak to a diverse Generation Y. FIRE 20/20’s market testing with 17-18 year olds shows that it hits the mark.
Benefits
- It’s free!
- Enables a link to be sent via email, included in fire departments’ recruitment material, and publicized with local media, schools, colleges, community organizations, recreational facilities, and faith-based institutions.
- Anytime, anywhere viewing.
- Provides a framework for reinforcing consistent messaging.
User Guide
Fire departments can receive a PDF of our User Guide for creative and cost-effective ways to reference and use Why I Chose Fire for maximum exposure to target audiences. Contact us today. It’s free!
About Downloading a Free Copy
FIRE 20/20 obtained licenses and permission to use the song “A Dream” in Why I Chose Fire. These licenses allow us unlimited streaming of the video on our website BUT limit the number of copies that can be downloaded or packaged as digital discs. To help us document compliance, any fire department, fire science college program, and cadet or Explorer program requesting permission to download a copy of Why I Chose Fire must first read and accept our Terms of Use Agreement. After we verify your acceptance of our Terms of Use Agreement and review the information you have completed in the form that follows, we’ll contact you via email with a link to download Why I Chose Fire.
Customization Options
To increase your fire department’s name and recognition with Generation Y’s men of color and females of all cultures and provide a competitive edge for attracting them, we are providing three customization options.
A webpage on our website will be designed around your fire department’s logo, messaging in text or video from the chief, and contact information. From your ‘branded’ webpage, visitors will view Why I Chose Fire.
Your fire department’s logo, messaging in text or video from the chief, and contact information will be placed on Why I Chose Fire. You will receive a digital disc copy of the customized video.
- Customized webpage and customized video
Includes everything above!
The customization options entail fees. For more information about the fees and process, please contact us at: ff@fire2020.org.
Recruiting & Retaining Diversity in the Fire Service™ Training Program
Why I Chose Fire is just one tool. We are beginning development of a comprehensive training program to reduce the costs and increase the effectiveness of targeted recruitment initiatives and ensure retention of diverse firefighters and paramedics.
Developing and implementing Recruiting & Retaining Diversity in the Fire Service is a two-year project:
- Year one includes developing and piloting the training program and job aids working with fire departments from around the country. Base-line measures will be established to measure success.
- Year two includes national implementation with nine regional training sessions for Fire/EMS departments, training academies and educational institutions. Organizations will receive a PDF of an instructor’s guide and materials for internal use. As part of the program, FIRE 20/20 will host a blog and knowledge base for recruiting and retaining diversity best practices.
Recruiting & Retaining Diversity in the Fire Service is a ways off but we’re gratified to have already gotten the following support for its reality!
Smokey Dyer—Fire Chief, Kansas City MO |
Dan Jones—Fire Chief, Chapel Hill NC |
Robert Creecy—Fire Chief, Richmond VA |
Rudy Jackson—Fort Worth TX |
Debra Amesqua—Fire Chief, Madison WI |
Darrel Von Raesfeld—Fire Chief, San Jose CA |
Don Bivins—Fire Chief, Vancouver WA |
Richard Arwood—Fire Chief, Memphis |
John Hohman—Fire Chief, Baltimore County MD |
Ron Mastin—Fire Chief, Fairfax County VA |
Eddie Burns—Fire Chief, Dallas TX |
Jeff Johnson—Fire Chief, Tualatin Valley OR |
Ronny Coleman—Fire Chief (Ret) San Clemente CA |
Janet Wilmouth—Fire Chief Magazine |
Raymond Orozco—Fire Commissioner, Chicago, IL |
Greg Gammon—Fire Chief, Las Vegas NV |
Larry Few—Fire Chief, Fulton County GA |
Dennis Rubin—Fire Chief, Washington DC |
Bobby Halton—Fire Engineering Magazine |
Tracy Jarman—Fire Chief, San Diego CA |
Doug Holton—Fire Chief, Milwaukee WI |
Edwin Smith—Fire Chief, Henrico County VA |
Charles Werner—Fire Chief, Charlottesville VA |
Tim Fuller—Fire Chief, Redmond WA |
Alan Brunacini—Fire Chief (Ret), Phoenix AZ |
Keith Bryant—Fire Chief, Oklahoma City OK |
Steve Cover—Fire Chief, Virginia Beach VA |
Tony Pini—Fire Chief (Ret), Santa Rosa CA |
Manuel Navarro—Fire Chief, Colorado Springs CO |
Ron Siarnicki—Executive Director, NFFF |
John McGrath—Fire Chief, Raleigh VA |
Alberto Olmos—President, National Association of Hispanic Firefighters |
David Daniels—Fire Chief, Renton WA |
Karen Wilcox—President, Black Women in the Fire Service |
Rhoda Mae Kerr—Fire Chief, Little Rock AR |
Randy Bruegman—Fire Chief, Fresno CA |
Tom Carr—Fire Chief, Montgomery County VA |
Kelvin Cochran—Fire Chief, Atlanta |
Cliff Jones—Fire Chief, Tempe AZ |
Phil Boriskie—Fire Chief, Houston, TX |
Don Oliver—Fire Chief, Wilson NC |
Kevin McGee—Fire Chief, Prince William County VA |
Chris Hebert—Firehouse.com |
Douglas Barry—Fire Chief, City of Los Angeles CA |
Steve Edwards—University of Maryland Fire Rescue Institute |
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