The objectives of this project were to discover and analyze national rescue and emergency systems in order to find elements of attractiveness for volunteer firefighters. This project was also an opportunity to discover the recruitment and training practices of partner structures in order to discuss each other's experiences and good practices. Indeed, the training offered to volunteer firefighters is sometimes heterogeneous between the different training centers. We wanted partners to be able to discover good practices and the systems put in place. These meeting times between participants should also make it possible to discuss innovative solutions improving the attractiveness of volunteering within fire stations. The partners wanted this project to address the causes of recruitment difficulties for volunteer firefighters as well as possible solutions to increase the attractiveness of their roles. One of the transversal goals of this project was also to introduce partner firefighters to the diversity of firefighter statuses within the European Union. Indeed, the profession of firefighter differs from one country to another, and it seemed important that partners were made aware of it.
The project FITTRA was created in order to answer a common need between the volontary fire stations in France, Poland and Romania. Indeed, after a common project around the technology used by the firefighters, the partners noticed that they had real difficulties to recruit young voluntary firefighters. After discussions, the partners were willing to create a project around these themes. Indeed, the three partner territories encounter recruitment difficulties within their barracks, and more particularly the recruitment of volunteer firefighters. These recruitment difficulties arise in particular from the isolation of the rural areas in which the partner structures are located and the difficulty of renewing retiring staff. Indeed, within the three partner countries, young people go to the cities to complete their studies, and do not always return to their territory when they enter the job market. Rural areas are aging, and labor forces are becoming scarcer, including in the firefighters area. This recruitment is all the more difficult among volunteer firefighters since it requires a significant investment from volunteers, but the remuneration is sometimes difficult to reconcile with personal and professional life.