Modern Bugles: Fostering Collaborative Fire Department Relationships Through Communication in Canada

Abstract

This paper utilizes a conceptual analysis and targeted literature review to explore public administrative collaboration models in the context of Canadian fire department interagency relationships. It proposes that effective emergency planning and response links are formed and maintained by the use of thoughtful and tailored communication. Numerous working examples of stakeholder relationships for fire departments are explored including other first responding organizations, various government levels, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), media and the public — including special considerations for specific subsets of the population. Operational recommendations are made based on the review of numerous public management and administration research for the creation of effective interagency relationships. These recommendations, while based in Canada, could easily be adapted to analogous fire departments or other first responding organizations internationally.