Homeland Security & Emergency Management 2014; 11(3): 393–413 D. K. Yoon*, Jessica Jensen and George A. Youngs Volunteer Fire Chiefs’ Perceptions of Retention and Recruitment Challenges in Rural Fire Departments: The Case of North Dakota, USA Abstract: Many rural volunteer fire departments in the US are contending with decreasing numbers of volunteers. General social change and changes spe- cific to firefighting have created retention and recruitment challenges for rural fire departments across the nation. The present study examines volunteer fire chiefs’ perceptions of these challenges in a state where there has been a long- term decline in the state’s rural population. The study draws on data collected from a statewide survey of volunteer fire department chiefs in North Dakota. This study found that chiefs did not see turnover as a major problem, but chiefs did report the need for many more volunteer firefighters and much more training to improve their departments. Consistent with national studies, chiefs identified age, time demands, government mandates, and personality conflicts as turno- ver triggers. In contrast with national studies, chiefs did not report loss of inter- est as a significant trigger. Finally, the study examines the sizable gap reported by chiefs between the number of active and inactive volunteers on department rosters and suggests how inactive volunteers might be utilized to recruit. Keywords: recruitment; retention; rural fire departments; volunteer firefighters. DOI 10.1515/jhsem-2013-0103 *Corresponding author: D. K. Yoon, Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology, School of Urban and Environmental Engineering, #701-3. Engineering Bldg. 2 50 UNIST-gil, Eonyang-eup, Ulju-gun Ulsan 689-798, Republic of Korea, Phone: +82-52-217-2827, Fax: +82-52-217-2809, e-mail: dkyoon@unist.ac.kr Jessica Jensen: Department of Emergency Management, North Dakota State University, Fargo, North Dakota, USA George A. Youngs: Department of Emergency Management, North Dakota State University, Main Campus, Fargo, North Dakota, USA Brought to you by | NDSU Library Periodicals Authenticated Download Date | 5/23/15 9:12 AM