• Fire Science and Engineering
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• v.31 no.5
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• pp.87-94
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• 2017

This paper was dealing with the change of academic meaning for activities of volunteer firefighter by enforcement of "Act on Volunteer Fire Brigade Establishment & Operation". For that, we checked the references including definition, origin, history, activities, and characteristics of volunteer firefighter. In addition, we confirmed the differentiating activity characteristics between the volunteer firefighter and the general volunteer. In result, the characteristics of the volunteer firefighter activities did not have with the spontaneity of the general volunteer activities due to Article 3 (appointment of volunteer firefighter), Article 4 (dismissal of volunteer firefighter), and Article 9 (working conditions of volunteer firefighter, etc) of "Act on Volunteer Fire Brigade Establishment & Operation". Finally, we could not interpret that the characteristics of the activities of volunteer firefither is same with the general volunteer activities. The result in this paper is expected to serve as a basis for the research of the volunteer fire department in Korea.

• Fire Science and Engineering
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.96-103
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• 2016

The purpose of this paper is to study effects of participation motivations, relationships, and compensation on a satisfaction in activity of volunteer firefighter. For this purpose, we surveyed 106 volunteer firefighter worked in Sejong city. The survey data was analyzed the reliability in questionnaire design by SPSS 20.0 win program. Also, the interrelationship of each factors were confirmed by analysis of frequency, percentage and regression analysis. Furthermore, the regression analysis was performed in order to investigate effects of motivations, interpersonal relationships, and compensation on a satisfaction in activity of volunteer firefighter. A factor of motivations, interpersonal relationships, and compensation was found to be a positive influence on a satisfaction in activity of volunteer firefighter under significance probability of < 0.05. The overall satisfaction was influenced in order of motivations, compensation, interpersonal relationships. This paper is expected to serve as a basis for the efficient operation of the Korean Volunteer Fire Department.

• Fire Science and Engineering
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.148-157
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• 2016

The purpose of this study is to investigate the influence of organizational culture to the activities satisfaction of volunteer firefighter. For that, we surveyed 182 volunteer firefighters worked in Sejong city. The survey was analyzed the reliability in questionnaire design by SPSS 20.0 win program. The interrelationship of each factors were confirmed by analysis of frequency, percentage and regression analysis. The regression analysis was performed in order to investigate effects of group, development, hierachy, and rationality culture based organizational culture on activities satisfaction of volunteer firefighter. A factor of group and development culture in organizational culture was found to be a positive influence on the activities satisfaction of the volunteer firefighter under significance probability of < 0.05. The bigger group and development culture the volunteer fire department, the higher the activities satisfaction of the volunteer firefighter. This paper is expected to serve as a basis for the efficient operation of the volunteer fire department in Korea.

• Journal of Contemporary Eastern Asia
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.82-92
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• 2017

The objective of this study is to analyze the relationship between organizational capacity and the use of firefighter volunteers by volunteer fire departments within local/county governments. The study is based on a nonrandom sample of 213 U.S. volunteer fire departments within local governments. The fire chief of these fire departments responded to an annual survey conducted by Firehouse Magazine in 2010 and 2011. This study uses OLS regression analysis to assess the impact of organizational capacity (measured as annual budget) on the number of firefighter volunteers used by the volunteer fire department. There is evidence to suggest that organizational capacity has a positive and statistically significant effect on the number of volunteers used among U.S. volunteer fire departments. This study extends current literature on public volunteerism by analyzing factors that explain variation in the use of volunteers by local governments, specifically fire departments. Findings suggest that fire departments with greater resources in terms of revenue are more likely to use volunteers.

• Fire Science and Engineering
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.95-102
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• 2018

The purpose of this study is to discuss an academic concept transition of volunteer firefighting after implementation of the "Volunteer Fire Brigade Establishment & Operation Act". For that, the definition, function, and support of member for the volunteer fire brigade and the quasi-public organization were compared and analyzed using laws and its implementing ordinances, local ordinances, references, etc. In results, we can consider the definition of the volunteer fire brigade in relation to that of the quasi-public organization. In addition, it showed that the volunteer fire brigade have the function of the sub-administrative organization in the quasi-public organization. The support of volunteer firefighting was very similar to that of the village foreman as example of the sub-administrative organization. In conclusion, an academic concept of the volunteer firefighting was translated from the general volunteer organization to the sub-administrative organization in the quasi-public organization. The result in this paper is expected to serve as a basis for the research of the volunteer fire department in Korea.

• Fire Science and Engineering
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.54-63
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• 2015

Volunteer fire department is a private firefighting organization which is set up in Seoul, metropolitan cities, city/eup/myeon to assist firefighting service. It actively participates in prevention and aid of various disasters as well as in fire prevention/extinguishment to protect people's lives and property and to promote regional development. In short, it is a nonpaid, voluntary, private service organization; it is composed of residents in the area who have spirit of service and sacrifice, wish to join, and work in their own occupation while assisting firefighting work. Yet, voluntary fire department of such nobility and sincerity has not been vitalized, and accordingly, studies regarding this issue have been conducted in firefighting organizations and academia. Therefore, purposes of this research are 1) to analyze issues of current situation through looking at basic training for new volunteer firefighter, unification of power to appoint and dismiss captain and crews of the volunteer fire department, volunteer fire firefighters with a few good people, and vitalization of female volunteer firefighters; and 2) to propose vitalization measures based on the findings above.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.387-393
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• 2022

Background: Problem drinking is a perennial concern in the US fire service. A large literature has documented the importance of addressing alcohol norms in intervention research. The purpose of this study was to explore alcohol norms in a national cohort of firefighters (FFs) to inform intervention development in this occupational group. Methods: Data were from a national online survey of career and volunteer FFs (N = 674). Participants were recruited through national fire service listservs and a database of FFs who had agreed to be contacted for research. Results: When asked about "acceptable" levels of alcohol consumption, FFs on average suggested levels which exceeded public health guidelines. Further, approximately half of career and volunteer FFs believed that, at least under some circumstances, drinking until intoxicated was normative. When asked how long should elapse between a FFs last drink and reporting for duty, the average suggested lag was 11.2 hours (sd = 4.6). However, among male volunteer FFs who reported heavy drinking, the average was 6.68 hours (sd = 4.77). Conclusions: Given the high prevalence of heavy and binge drinking in the fire service, it is not surprising that the alcohol norms found in this study were consistent with a culture of drinking. Participants' reports of alcohol use among their peers were consistent with the actual prevalence of problem drinking. Thus, education and prevention efforts in this occupation should focus on changing norms about alcohol use, including linking heavy drinking to other health and safety issues they face.