EXTRA, EXTRA/Proving the value of fire departments

Finding financial support for volunteer fire departments’ capital projects can be a challenge. To help such departments prove their value to local officials, the Washington-based National Volunteer Fire Council Foundation and the Public Safety & Environmental Protection Institute at St. Joseph’s University in Philadelphia have created a “Cost Savings Calculator” that demonstrates the value of volunteer and combination fire departments to their communities. By filling in information such as the size of the area protected, number of residences, current operating expenses and number of active volunteers, fire departments can determine the cost for the same service with career firefighters. The software is available for free download from www.nvfc.org, along with a customizable PowerPoint presentation template.