How to Know If It’s Time for a New Fire Department Website

Image of a firefighter clearly frustrated with his department's website.

A lot of volunteer fire departments had a website once.

It worked for a while. Then it broke. Or the person who set it up moved on. Or nobody knew how to update it anymore. Eventually it got taken down, or maybe it’s still live but hasn’t been touched in years.

And in the meantime, Facebook has kind of filled the gap. Sort of.

But here’s the thing:

If your website is outdated or hard to manage, it may actually be doing more harm than good.

This guide is for fire departments like yours who are wondering if it’s time to fix what’s broken or just start fresh.

How’s Your Website Doing?

Think about your current site (or your last one). Check off what applies.

  • It works well on a phone
  • It’s easy for someone on your team to update
  • Event flyers, roster and contact information are current
  • It helps with volunteer recruitment
  • It gives a good impression of your department

If you didn’t check at least 3 of these, your website probably isn’t helping your department, and it might even be making things harder.

What Should a Good Department Website Include?

You don’t need a bunch of bells and whistles. But you do need a site that:

  • Looks good on phones and tablets
  • Has up-to-date info (calendar, events, roster, etc.)
  • Explains what your department does and how to volunteer
  • Is easy to update — no tech skills needed
  • Doesn’t go down when the volunteer who built it disappears
  • Isn’t buried in ads or bundled with a dozen other things you don’t need

If you’re relying only on Facebook, you’re missing out. Facebook is great for updates — but it doesn’t replace a real website when it comes to recruiting, representing your department professionally, or showing your community you’re active and engaged.

What We Offer

We build websites just for volunteer fire departments — especially the ones that had something once but need a fresh start.

Here’s how it works:

  • $500 one-time setup
  • $500/year for hosting, support, and updates
  • You send us the info — we handle the rest.

Once it’s set up, you can easily add new events, update your roster, and add photos, all with a simple editing system. If you need a hand, just reach out — we’re happy to help.

Ready to Think It Through?

We’ve created a quick form to help us understand what matters most to your department. Once we review your responses, we’ll follow up with a recommendation on how our system can best serve your goals. No pressure, no obligation.

What's most important to you?(Required)
Click all that apply.
Do you already have a domain name?(Required)
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