Fire Department Swot Analysis

Introduction The Southport Volunteer Fire Department is in great need of an overhaul of its outdated rules, regulations and policies. The department has witnessed over the past several years a serious decline in its membership and the ranks are growing thin due to older members retiring. In order to save the fire department, it was determined that the department could benefit greatly from doing a strategic plan. A strategic plan will result in the department overhauling, its outdated rules, regulations, and policies towards achieving its mission. This can be achieved by using a SOAR based approach, versus using a SWOT analysis. A SOAR analysis focuses on the strength of an organization and attempts to understand the entire organization by …show more content…
Each of the participants being interviewed was very energetic and excited about volunteering with the department. It gave them a sense of pride and accomplishment. They wanted to have their families be proud of them since each member I interviewed had another member who either had been a firefighter or was currently serving as a volunteer firefighter. It was as each member wanted to continue the tradition and legacy of their family. This translated into each member having a positive initial impression of the Southport Fire Department saying that each of the other members were welcoming and great group of people they looked forward to working …show more content…
However, those interviewed believe that the fire department has several opportunities that it could take that would greatly benefit the department. The number one opportunity discussed was updating the firehouse, All the interviewees felt the firehouse was outdated and holding back the department. The Lieutenant volunteer firefighter even went as far as stating “ The out datedness of the firehouse is holding back people from wanting to join the department. Updating the firehouse into a more modernized department would greatly increase the number of volunteers. Nobody wants to join a volunteer department that is outdated.” Therefore the out datedness of the firehouse is a major concern among the interviewees, but going about fixing that problem is not going to be an easy task. By fixing this problem, the fire chief believes it will give the department more room, allowing for all of the departmental apparatuses to be kept inside of the building and will allow the firefighters to keep the firehouse staffed 24/7. Other opportunities discussed in the department include updating outdated fire equipment and updating the laws of department. The rookie firefighter interviewed sees the department as a little outdated and not up to date with modern times. She feels that the laws that are currently in place in the department