VIDEO: We have reported on the dwindling number of volunteer firefighters here in New York and efforts to recruit new members for volunteer fire departments and companies.
And now some fire officials are asking Gov. Kathy Hochul and state lawmakers to provide authorization to go beyond current incentives to draw in volunteer firefighters and add new part-time compensation options.
Volunteer fire departments and companies face the dilemma of fighting more difficult to deal with fires like those from electric vehicles or handling hazardous materials incidents and that requires more state mandated training from the volunteers who are already donating their time for the fire service.
Getzville Fire Company public information officer David Morales explains: “The fires that we’re fighting have changed from the past which means that the way that we train to fight fires has to change as well to adapt to those new types of fires.”
