Tips

The following is a list of tips and ideas to assist you with the process of holding your own open house.

Organize an open house committee that meets frequently beginning at least two months before the open house is scheduled.
Consider having one individual responsible for each of the following areas or delegating specific tasks to specific members for accountability sake.

Put up yard signs and banners.
Submit a news article to your local newspaper.
Place flyers that reflect the excitement of firefighting and rescue service in stores, gas stations, and around your community.
Make arrangements to speak to or distribute flyers to members of Rotary, Kiwanis and Lions Clubs and your local Chamber of Commerce.

Target your local high schools: make arrangements for a table display early in the week of your open house.

Enlist members to ensure that the facilities and equipment are spotless.
Plan to offer refreshments, if feasible. People respond to free food and beverages.
Consider offering Polaroid pictures of children sitting in the truck operator’s seat.
Have visitors register for a drawing. Local businesses will donate gift certificates for pizza and other meals at their restaurants. Your hardware store may even offer a certificate for a reduced price on smoke detectors, which you can distribute to people attending the open house.

Plan activities to provide both education and a hands-on experience that will stimulate interest in your visitors.
Direct a hand line with another member.
Show an extinguisher technique using a Bullex system.
Review the turnout gear and SCBA.
Demonstrate the Jaws of Life.
Have displays (fire police, etc.) showing their important role in the fire service.
Have people experience what it’s like to perform CPR chest compression techniques.

Follow up with the people who registered at the open house. Applicant enrollment is critical to our future.

Promotional Checklist

Make sure you’ve thought of everything before you host your own recruitment-targeted open house: Use this list as your guide.

Change the marquee out front of your department to announce the open house
Reach out to media contacts to personally inform them of this upcoming event
Invite media to attend open house or have a live broadcast
Encourage local media to cover “A Day in the Life of a Volunteer Firefighter” segment
Have an interview set up with a local radio, web or TV personality so that the event is featured in the news
Set up special “Event” on your department’s Facebook page; invite all your friends and ask them to spread the word;
Post reminders on your department’s Facebook Wall frequently
Post reminders on your individual Facebook Wall frequently
Hang up posters for promotion in your community
Place yard signs and banners in front of your fire house
Distribute a press release to urge community participation
Add date and event to community online calendars (e.g. TV, radio, organization websites)
If you have a department newsletter or eblast, include the information about the event

If you’d like to have handouts for kids visiting your department, check out our FASNY Fire Prevention and Life Safety Activity Books filled with fun exercises and valuable safety lessons.

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