Fire and emergency services departments across Washington State and throughout America are facing unprecedented challenges to maintain services under the toughest financial constraints in our memory. Budget woes are the most visible of concerns, however, below the surface, departments are also experiencing a generational and culture shift that is compounding workforce change issues facing fire leadership at all levels.

Washington Fire Chiefs and the Washington State Council of Firefighters have been working together to help their members develop new skills, new perspectives and new strategies to not only get through these tough times, but to develop increased resiliency and build a stronger fire service for the future. From that common purpose, the two organizations co-sponsored the delivery of the workshop, Mastering Change in The Fire Service Workforce on January 12^th and 13^th. The two-day session was hosted by Kent Fire Chief Jim Schneider and the Kent Fire Department at the Kent Fire Training Center. Eight department teams from Seattle, Bellevue, Kent, South King County, Renton, South Kitsap County, East Pierce and Walla Walla attended.

Mastering Change in The Fire Service Workforce was developed and piloted in 2009 following a survey FIRE 20/20 conducted with a number of chiefs from around the country. These chiefs believe that although the fire service offers a number of excellent leadership and management training programs, none of the offerings deal with how to lead and manage all the change issues facing fire service leaders today, let alone in the future.

The program was specifically designed to bring together four-person department leadership teams that include both labor and management. 

“We’ve learned over the years that we have to get the key stakeholders in the room to understand the change process and begin developing strategies together in order to create something sustainable,” says Hanley Brite, creator and lead facilitator.

“If labor and management are not working together to meet the impending economic, organizational and generational challenges, efforts will be short-sighted and poorly received! That is why we co-sponsored the workshop,” says Mike Brown, Executive Director of the Washington Fire Chiefs.

Kelly Fox, President of the Washington State Council of Firefighters further explains, “When dealing with the needs of an ever changing population, we must prepare ourselves in a way that guarantees a quality and deployment of service that is worthy of the community we serve. This workshop was an opportunity for labor and management to work together, leading to more cooperation and effectiveness in addressing the issues that confront us.”

Fire Chief Al Church, IAFF Local 2024 President Ryan Herrera, Assistant Chief Ed Plumlee and Deputy Chief Vick Pennington attended as a team from South King County Fire.  “OUTSTANDING program. One of the best I have had in 33 years of fire service programs,” said Church. 

“This was a terrific experience for the Walla Walla team—as much for the information as for the time together. Membership from even small departments can get pigeonholed from each other. The flow of the training was effective and the planning charts will be invaluable,” said Walla Walla Chief Terry Thomas.

The workshop’s design is unique in that department teams work on their own challenges, rather than case studies. “The method of delivery was very effective. I enjoyed working with my own team on a real issue,” stated Ken Weatherill, Deputy Chief of Operations from Kent Fire.

“Using the issues of change that are facing each individual organization and working together as your own team was a novel concept. I felt it was a key to the success of the workshop,” said Ted Hickey AFSCME Local 21 from Renton Fire and Emergency Services. “It is obvious, much thought, experience and research has gone into this workshop.”

Two overall evaluations were:

• Information and tools presented will help me to be a more effective leader and facilitator of change. Strongly Agree/Agree 96%

• I would recommend this workshop. Definitely/Most Likely 96%

If you would like to host a workshop in your area, or for more information, contact us.