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IAFC Human Relations Committee

Building Bridges of Understanding The mission of the IAFC Human Relations Committee is to identify human relations and diversity issues and develop and promote solutions to assist our profession in achieving a diverse work force. The vision of the Committee is that the fire service will actively embrace an open, respectful, diverse workforce that is responsive to the needs of a changing environment. We value a fire service that fosters active inclusiveness, respect, integrity, courage, fairness, equity, ethics, empathy, and honesty.

IAFC Human Relations Positions: No Tolerance for Discriminatory Behavior in the Fire and Emergency Service (pdf) Code of Ethics For Fire Chiefs (pdf) Human Relations and  Inclusiveness (pdf) Recruitment Tips (pdf) Diversity Celebration Opportunities (pdf)

Contact Us

The IAFC Human Relations Committee would like to know more about you and your needs. Please feel free to contact us with your questions, issues and concerns.

Discuss human relations issues and topics via the IAFC Human Relations Discussion Forum

Committee Members

Human Relations Fire Department Initiatives

Diversity Recruitment/Retention: Minneapolis Fire Department
During his tenure as chief, Retired Fire Chief Rocco Forte formed a cultural awareness committee that identified barriers to recruitment and retention of minorities and went about the task of removing the barriers while at the same time raising performance standards. Chief Forte effectively formed coalitions of diversity minority organizations to help promote these initiatives and develop organizational systems to support the retention of a diverse workforce.
Contact: Rocco Forte, Retired Fire Chief and Minneapolis Asst. City Coordinator
612-673-3177   rocco.forte@ci.minneapolis.mn.us

LBJ High School Fire Academy
This is a high school fire academy in Austin, TX in a very diverse community where the students are eligible for firefighter and EMT certification at the end of the two year program. Students indicated that they were all considering a fire service career after one year in the program, though they didn’t have that intention when they entered it.

Fire Department Equal Opportunity Officer I Program
Maryland Fire Rescue Institute (MFRI)
Contact: Paul Brown, MFRI Equity Officer
301-226-9963

Most Diverse Fire Department in the United States (per IAFF study)
Madison (WI) Fire Department
Details and download the study: Achieving and Retaining a Diverse Fire Service Workforce
Information on Madison Fire Department’s recruitment program

Spanish Immersion Fire Station Program
Prince William County Department of Fire & Rescue, Virginia

Fire Station/Community Partnership: Celebrating Diversity (pdf)
Wichita (KS) Fire Station 10

Camp Inferno – Weeklong Overnight Fire Camp for Women Ages 15-19
Since 2004, the Overland Park (KS) Fire Department has hosted this hands-on firefighter based camp for girls age 15-19. The week-long event is aimed at introducing and encouraging them to explore a career in the fire service. More importantly, at the end of camp each year the young women have discovered more about themselves, removed barriers both they and society placed upon them, and recognized there are no barriers that can stop them from achieving what they set their minds to accomplish. The program has tremendous support from the OFD firefighters, medics, chief officers and city officials as well as neighboring departments.
Contact: Battalion Chief Julie Harper, Overland Park Fire Department
Julie.harper@OPKansas.org

Women Firefighter Recruitment Program
Camp Blaze www.campblaze.com
Contact: 415-646-0711 zenith@campblaze.com  

Minority Youth Recruitment Program
Charlottesville (VA) Fire Department
Contact: Fire Chief Charles Werner, 434-970-3223

National Fire Academy: Leading Diverse Communities Beyond Conflict
16-hour Executive Skill Series course

Human Relations and Diversity Resource Links

Organizations

• American Institute for Managing Diversity www.aimd.org
• Black Chief Officers Committee www.blackchiefofficer.com
• Black Women in the Fire Service www.iabpff.org/bwfs/bwfs.htm
• FIRE 20/20 www.fire2020.org
• International Association of Black Professional Firefighters www.iabpff.org
• International Association of Firefighters Human Relations Committee www.iaff.org/hr
• Intercultural Communication Institute  www.intercultural.org
• International Association of Black Professional Firefighters www.iabpff.org
• Multicultural Institute www.nmci.org
• National Association of Hispanic Firefighters www.nahf.org
• National Coalition Building Institute www.ncbi.org
• Native American Chiefs (Currently no website available. Contact Chief Craig Encinas, President, 520-383-8276, craig.encinas@tonation-nsn.gov)
• Women in Fire & Emergency Services (formerly Women Chief Fire Officers and Women in the Fire Service) www.i-women.org

Books, Articles, Reports, Information

Book: Fire Service Personnel Management (2nd edition) by Steven T. Edwards, 2005
Pearson Prentice Hall Publishers, NJ

Book: Human Resources for the Fire Service by Nathan Trauernicht, release date late 2008
Jones and Bartlett Publishers, MA

Download: Building Inclusive Communities – An Action Guide for City Leaders (pdf)

Video: Multicultural clips of firefighters and citizens talking about customer service, leadership, communications, etc. 

Report: Fire Service Multicultural Health and Safety Report

Article: Harvard Business School Working Knowledge newsletter about safety and the male culture
Manly Men, Oil Platforms, and Breaking Stereotypes by Sarah Jane Gilbert 11/27/2006

All resources, initiatives and links listed on this page have been brought to the attention of IAFC’s Human Relations Committee and are listed for informational purposes.  Such listing does not constitute an endorsement of any kind by the IAFC and/or the Human Relations Committee.