Since its inception in 1937, the Roswell Fire Department (RFD) has enjoyed a legacy of brave and talented firefighters. As the City has grown, so has the department. It has transitioned from an all-volunteer force, to compensating the firefighters based on calls for service, to the part-time model it has now.
Although the department does employ 42 full-time employees serving as senior staff, battalion chiefs, captains, and support staff, the majority of the RFD team are part-time. Currently, Roswell is the only city of its size and complexity in the state of Georgia that relies on a part-time workforce.
Most of Roswell's part-time firefighters work full-time for one of 21 neighboring fire departments and report to their part-time job in Roswell after already working a full shift at their primary/home department. As reported in the gap analysis, this staffing model comes with a variety of limitations and challenges, including scheduling difficulties; fatigue/sleep deprivation related to working both primary and secondary (Roswell) jobs; lack of consistent, full-time supervision in each station; and limited ability for training on Roswell-specific apparatus, policies, and procedures.
The current staffing model also requires approximately 60% more employees compared to the 138 staff required in a full-time staffing scenario. This requires dedicating copious administrative staff time toward recruiting, outfitting, and onboarding new firefighters, as well as a higher operating budget in order to provide all staff with the necessary gear, uniforms, and other resources.
Scheduling is extremely complex due to RFD's current staffing model. It requires several processes, including collecting employee availability and making assignments using a tiered process based on certifications, tenure, and other factors. If even one part-time staff member's availability changes due to professional or personal obligations, such as being held-over at their primary fire department, it can complicate the entire schedule. None of the available fire department staffing software solutions readily accommodate Roswell's unique part-time staffing model, which requires the process to be handled manually by a part-time administrative fire captain.