In positive economic environments, the likelihood of new equipment and increased staff is higher. The more the public knows about the services we provide, the more likely they are going to use those services in the future. Additionally, as noted above, the fire service is about helping others in their time of need. A very positive view of the department may convince voters to view public safety as a vital part of their community and elect political leaders that believe the same. How the public perceives its local fire service can directly affect budgeting. Positive public perception is a very powerful and broad tool in the fire administrator’s toolbox. As firefighters promote to administrative positions, there is no reason why this toolbox concept needs to be put in storage along with the chief’s bunker gear.

Every specialized class that a firefighter takes, every method of completing tasks that we train…all these are metaphorical tools that we store in our mental toolbox. Similarly, every tool in an auto garage has a function, a time and a place where said tool is the most effective for a specific job. It is an unfortunate fact of our current culture that we must understand and work with.Įvery firefighter is taught in their respective fire academy that there are a thousand ways to mitigate an emergency. If the story creates viewer interest, advertisers will spend money. Why is this? Mass media news agencies are businesses that need to make money to survive. However, if a firefighter is arrested for a DUI or a video is released on the Internet of a firefighter behaving poorly, we will see the story on eight news channels and six newspapers, and there will be 10 million views on Internet social media sites. Anybody who has spent time in the fire service knows that when we make a great stop at a fire or save the fluffy white puppy from a burning house, we make the news on one or two channels. As an executive officer in a fire department, the media can either be a great asset or an even greater detriment.

Public perception definition