RecruitNY effort seeks volunteer firefighters

KINGSTON, N.Y. » Some area fire departments will open their doors April 28 and 29 to participate in RecruitNY, an annual recruitment effort spearheaded by Firemen’s Association of the State of New York.

For the eighth straight year, the weekend event will give members of the public a taste of what it means to be a volunteer firefighter.

Among the local volunteer fire departments participating in RecruitNY is the J.N. Cordts department at 211 Delaware Ave. in the city of Kingston, which will hold an event April 29.

Also participating: the Cottekill Volunteer Fire Company, April 28-29; High Falls Fire Department, April 28; Hunter Fire Company 1, April 28-29; Napanoch Fire Company, April 28; Port Ewen Fire Department, April 28; and Taghkanic Volunteer Fire Company, April 28.

For a complete list of participating companies and additional information, go to www.recruitny.org/participation-area.

Across the state, volunteer firefighters will conduct firehouse tours, demonstrate firefighting techniques and answer questions to generate interest in and appreciation for what members do on a regular basis, according to a press release about RecruitNY.

“It is a privilege and an honor to serve as a volunteer firefighter,” Firemen’s Association President Ken Pienkowski said in a prepared statement. “Joining the fire service is an incredibly rewarding thing to do, and all across New York state, volunteers are eager to discuss this possibility with their neighbors, friends and family.

“Serving as a volunteer firefighter means serving one’s community, but it also means joining a very close, very special family,” Pienkowski added.

Fire departments that want to sign up for RecruitNY should go to www.recruitny.org/signup. The program provides recruitment resources, communication tools, posters, banners and more.