PPB May 2020

Fire Services Fast Facts • The U.S. is home to 370,000 career firefighters and 745,000 volunteer firefighters. • Only 8 percent of firefighters are female. • 50 percent of firefighters are between the ages of 30 and 49. • The U.S has 29,705 fire departments and 18 percent are comprised of all-career or mostly career departments. • Across the country, 45 percent of fire departments provide basic life support, while 17 percent provide advanced life support. More than a third (38 percent) provide no emergency medical services. Source: National Fire Protection Association, 2018 A Call For Firefighters Almost half (49 percent) of fire departments around the country protect communities of fewer than 2,500 people. Of the 396,000 firefighters who protect these communities, 96 percent are volunteers. Many volunteer departments do not meet National Fire Prevention Association (NFPA) 1720, which mandates four firefighters onsite before beginning an interior attack. Distributors can work with fire departments— especially those in smaller communities—on recruitment campaigns to ensure they have the necessary staff. Source: Needs Assessment of the U.S. Fire Service Where to Find Law Enforcement The most law enforcement officers per capita are located in: • District of Columbia • New York • New Mexico • Texas • Louisiana These states have the fewest law enforcement officers per capita: • Washington • Iowa • Utah • Alaska • Oregon Source: WalletHub At A Glance: Police Officers The most common industries for police officers include justice, public order and safety. 85.3% of police officers are male 77.1% of police officers are white 13.3% are black 2.6% are Asian The median age of police officers is 39.5 Source: Data USA | MAY 2020 | 31 GROW