LibGuides: Diversity in the Fire Service: Online and Government Resources

Online Resources

Data USA Profile of Firefighters
Data USA, created by Deloitte, Datawheel, and MIT professor Cesar Hidalgo, maintains a profile of US firefighters, including demographic and diversity information. The information here is sourced from the US Census Bureau, and so represents only career firefighters.
Fire Rescue 1 Special Feature: Reflecting Diverse Communities
Fire Rescue 1 published a Special Feature which includes articles, columns, and a roundtable about the importance of diversity in the fire service. There are also a number of other articles about diversity on the site published before and since this special feature.
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Published in November 2017.
IAFC Be Inclusive Initiative
Initiative by the International Association of Fire Chiefs. The site contains a number of posters about inclusivity that may be downloaded for display.
US Fire Department Profile August 2022
By Rita Fahy, Ben Evarts and Gary P. Stein.
NFPA Research report on US fire departments, including demographic data. This report includes data about career and volunteer fire departments. Appendix C highlights the demographic data.
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Published in 2019 from research conducted in 2017.

The crew of the first all-women staffed engine in FDNY. Photo from JoinFDNY on Twitter.

National Fire Department Registry: Quick Facts
Find quick information about fire departments across the country here. The page include statistics about department makeup, personnel, and organizational structure. There are also links to previous years' information at the bottom. Note that registration is optional, so not all departments are represented.
US Fire Statistics
A collection of statistics collected by the USFA. It includes a subsection about firefighter and fire department statistics.
Retention and Recruitment for the Volunteer Emergency Services
This pdf booklet from the US Fire Administration presents methods for recruiting and retaining volunteer emergency services personnel. It has a chapter about diversity in volunteer emergency services.

Recruiting Minorities for the Fire Department
This National Fire Academy publication showcases methods for recruiting members of minority groups to the fire service. It uses the Hickory, North Carolina fire department as an example and suggests specific strategies for that department. Because it is a government publication it is freely available and open access. This is also available printed in the IFSI Library.

A Celebration of Pioneers in the American Fire Service
As part of Black History Month in 2011 the Department of Homeland Security created a history of African Americans in the US Fire Service.

11 requirements to become a firefighter
This article from FireRescue1 provides a guide to what you should (and should not) do as you prepare to join the fire service, including a four-part video series.
How Do I Become a Firefighter in Illinois?
A guide to becoming a firefighter, specific to the requirements for the state of Illinois.

Firefighter's ABCs
Firefighter's ABCs aims to aid potential firefighters to become qualified candidates, and fire departments to find qualified, diverse candidates.
International Association of Black Professional Firefighters
The IABPF is a professional organization for black professional firefighters across the world, including the United States. Its goal is to help black firefighters across the globe rise through the ranks of the fire service.
International Association of Women in Fire & Emergency Service
A nonprofit organization devoted to advancing women in the fire service. It hosts a biennial conference, works with the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) and the National Fire Academy, produces recruitment materials, and shares information resources for women in the fire service.
International EMS & Firefighters Pride Alliance
The IEFPA is an organization working to end homophobia in the emergency medical and fire service fields through education, awareness, and peer support.