An Exploratory Study on Firefighter Attitudes towards Combining Fire Departments in the Grand Rapids

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An Exploratory Study on Firefighter Attitudes
towards Combining Fire Departments in the Grand
Rapids Metropolitan Area
Bret Groendyke
GPY 495
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Background

• An Eastern Michigan University study conducted by
  a Michigan Fire Chief showed that the issues of
  personnel, training, equipment, dispatch, and
  response time are the primary issues departments
  deal with.
• Each of these issues is influenced by the other.
• Prince Georges County (Maryland) Fire Department,
  a county wide department, was used in a scaled
  down reference to local operations.
• There is a current proposal to combine the Grand
  Rapids, Grandville, Kentwood, and Wyoming Fire
  Departments into a single metropolitan
  department. There has been no study of any kind
  on this issue.
• Im a firefighter for Grandville and I want to
  see how other local firefighters feel about
  their current service.

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Methods

• - The study area involved firefighters
  representing the fire departments of Grand
  Rapids, Grandville, Kentwood, and Wyoming. The
  original reason for the possible combination of
  these departments is the proximity of the
  stations to one another and the similar
  geographic area that each department would
  respond to.
• - Individuals were randomly selected by the shift
  on which they worked. Each department has three
  different shifts (A,B,C) where you work one day
  (24 hrs.) then have the next two off. All persons
  on the selected shift were provided with the
  survey.
• - Firefighters were provided a Likert Scaling
  survey with questions referencing personnel,
  equipment, training, response time, dispatch, and
  an overall view on combining. All of the
  responses were entered into an excel spreadsheet.
• - These questions were chosen because they are
  the foundation issues for any fire department,
  with the exception of an overall view on merging
  departments.
• - The questions were organized to provide
  supporting and opposing views for each issue.
• - A score was assigned based on the responses to
  each of the eleven questions.
• - The scores closer to 55 showed that the
  individual agreed with a Metropolitan Department.
  The closer the score to 11, the more the
  individual disagreed. A score of 33 would be
  neutral. Anything above that point would be in
  favor, and anything below would be against a
  combination.

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Department Number of Years with
Department Rank Age Sex Highest
Level of Education Union Member (circle
one) Y N Please Read Each Statement and Circle
One Response. Each statement pertains to the idea
of a combined Grand Rapids, Grandville,
Kentwood, and Wyoming Fire Department.
Questionnaire
Please write any comments you have on a possible
combined (Grand Rapids, Grandville, Kentwood,
Wyoming) Fire Department ALL INFORMATION IN THIS
SURVEY IS CONFIDENTIAL!
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Raw Survey Data
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Results

• Results were found by adding together the numbers
  for the selected groups and finding the averages.
  
• As a department Grand Rapids 34.4, Grandville
  34.8, Kentwood 35.3, Wyoming 42.5
• High school/College (1 years, Associates,
  Bachelors, Masters)
• High School 33.8, College 36.6
• 35 and younger/Older than 35 Younger 35.4, Older
  35.4
• 12 or less/More than 12 Years Less 35.1, More
  35.8
• Firefighters/Command Staff Same result as
  length of time with department, 35.1 and 35.8
  respectively.
• Lowest Recorded Survey 38 year old Grandville
  Lieutenant with an Associates Degree and 8 years
  with the department 23
• Highest Recorded Survey 28 year old Wyoming
  Firefighter with an Associates Degree and 8 years
  with the department 50

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ResultsThe following statements are from the
comments section of the questionnaire.

• Would like a comprehensive study done with all of
  the considered departments represented and with
  all levels of rank represented.
• This city would benefit from a Metro Dept but
  doesnt have much to offer as far as personnel.
  This will be very, very difficult due to politics
  and chiefs/city managers unwilling to give up
  their little entity. Insurance/pensions/etc. also
  make it difficult.
• Although the consolidation of the departments
  would benefit the entire region, each community
  tries to maintain its own identity and would not
  support the merger.
• In theory this concept makes sense on a number of
  levels. I am unsure though if it is feasible due
  to a number of significant political and
  statutory hurdles.
• I think a combined dept. could benefit all
  departments if we could somehow find a way to
  test this system, such as training together a
  lot. Also staffing could be helped from dept. to
  dept. much the same way a factory deals with
  shortages in different depts., it could work, it
  would be very interesting.
• Might want to start with combined training.
• I think a metro department would cause more
  problems than it would solve.
• I feel the future of all or any emergency
  services are going to have to look at joining
  services in order to continue the services we
  provide economically.

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Conclusions

• Based on the survey, firefighters within the four
  departments are in favor of combining resources
  in some way in order to improve services.
• Specific trends
• - Firefighters From each department have
  significant issues with the way their dispatch is
  operated. Most feel it needs to be fixed
  immediately.
• - Firefighters from unionized departments have
  problems with the number of personnel they
  operate with (Grandville v. Wyoming for Example).
  
• - Very few people felt that combining resources
  would improve response times.
• - Firefighters from Grand Rapids were least in
  favor of a metro department.
• - A majority of firefighters feel that combining
  training would improve their department.
• - Firefighters in administrative positions
  support combining resources and personnel from an
  economic standpoint. The Eastern Michigan Study
  showed this was a major factor for combining
  operations.
• Most of the firefighters surveyed believe that
  there are more pros than cons to combining but
  believe that it will probably not happen.

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Limitations

• The survey only provides the views of
  firefighters.
• The survey doesnt reflect the traditional
  standpoint of the fire department.
• Not all firefighters from each department were
  surveyed.
• Firefighters from certain departments more
  willing to answer questions than others.

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Bibliography

• Fire Department Consolidation, A View From Those
  Affected. Jason D. Ling. Van Buren Twp. Fire
  Department. Eastern Michigan University Fire
  Science Program. August 2001.
• Prince Georges County Fire/EMS Department.
  http//www.goprincegeorgescounty.com/Government/Pu
  blicSafety/Fire-EMS/index.asp. 2006.

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Questions?