www.thebackdraftmagazine.com | A Volunteer Fire Service Publication | Volume 5 | Issue 1 | Backdraft Magazine 11
There comes a time when you have just had
enough and may need a break or to retire; volunteer
firefighters burn out. This is not necessarily because
there is anything wrong with the member or the
department; sometimes we just have had enough.
There are techniques that can help you determine
when someone is burnt out and help prevent
burnout.
Volunteering will take everything you are willing to
give. It will even take things that you are unwilling
to give. Many do not look at volunteering like work
but see it as a way to relax, even though they are
putting their heart and soul into it.
The truth is that volunteering as a firefighter is not
the same as volunteering once a year to clean up
your neighborhood or paint a house. Volunteering
as a firefighter is a 24-hour commitment and one
that can cause us to lose focus, resulting in burnout.
STRIKING A BALANCE
I will never forget my mother sharing a story about
when she met my father. My father explained that
the firehouse will always come first, and she will
come second. At that point that, my mother said,
she realized that it takes someone special to love a
firefighter, and she was right.
Although I may not agree with my father that the
firehouse always comes first, it often does. The
result is that we end up having to sacrifice everything
to help others, and may not have support at home.
Then again, this was the way I was raised, as were
many others.
In thinking back to when I started in the fire service,
maybe my chief had it right. He said that family,
church and work always come first, then the fire
service. He may not have known it at the time, but
my wise chief was talking about finding a balance.
Yes, we do have to sacrifice for others, but not at
the cost of who we are, our family and our life.
GIVING TOO MUCH
It is too easy to get burnt out in the fire service, and
very rarely is it due to fires. Burnout occurs when
members sacrifice themselves too much.
You know the members who always do all of the
work. You know the members who are at every
fundraiser. You know the members who practically
live at the department.
Chances are they are on their way to being burnt
out. Their hearts are in the right place but they may
be sacrificing too much.
They often believe if they don't do it, no one will.
This type of burden can burn out anyone.
By Jason Zigmont
Volunteer Professionals
Volunteering Will Take Everything You Offer and More, Which is Why
Controlling Burnout is Critical to Keeping Firefighters Engaged
2 WAYS TO FIGHT VOLUNTEER BURNOUT