SERVING THE COMMUNITY
Local volunteer fire departments taking part in recruitment effort
ALBANY, N.Y. » RecruitNY, an initiative of the Firemen’s Association of the State of New York, is less than two weeks away.
Over 300 local fire departments have signed up to participate in the annual recruitment effort on April 28-29. For the eighth straight year, firehouses across the state will open their doors to the public in an effort to increase membership in the volunteer fire service, a cornerstone of FASNY’s ongoing recruitment campaign.
During the April 28-29 weekend, members of the public will be able to get a taste of what it means to be a volunteer firefighter.
RECRUITNY OPEN HOUSES
The following is a list of volunteer fire departments in Saratoga County that will participate in RecruitNY, a statewide recruiting effort for local departments. • Eagle Matt Lee Fire Company, 35 Washington St., Ballston Spa, (518) 885-6261, April 28 • Halfmoon Fire District, 1, 315 Middletown Road, Waterford, (518) 371-7571, April 28 • Malta Ridge Volunteer Fire Company, 8 Hemphill Place and 5 Heam Road, Malta, (518) 289-5369 and (518) 584-6155, April 28 • Providence, 7135 Antioch Road, Middle Grove, (518) 258-0739, April 28 • Rock City Falls Volunteer Fire Department, 520 Geyser Road, Ballston Spa, (518) 470-9511, April 28 • Round Lake Volunteer Fire Department, 8 Hemphill Place, Malta, (518) 899-2511, April 28 • Vischer Ferry Fire Co., 750 Grooms Road, Rexford, (518) 4917311, April 28 • West Crescent Fire Department, 1440 Crescent Road, Clifton Park, (518) 371-7478, April 28 and 29 • Wilton Volunteer Fire Department, 270 Ballard Road, Wilton, (518) 451-6648, April 28 and 29 Across New York state, volunteer firefighters will be conducting firehouse tours, demonstrating firefighting techniques, and more, all to generate interest and appreciation for what members of the fire service do on a regular basis. Anyone interested in the possibility of joining the fire service will have the opportunity to speak with active volunteers, who can discuss what being a member of the fire service entails.
“It is a privilege and an honor to serve as a volunteer firefighter,” said FASNY President Ken Pienkowski. “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. We are always heartened to see New Yorkers turn out to support their volunteer firefighters, and expect to see many faces, both familiar and new, during this year’s RecruitNY event.”
Volunteer fire departments not only answer emergency calls, but they often serve as the backbones of local communities, hosting popular events such as parades and pancake breakfasts, and providing common space for people to gather.
In 2016, FASNY released an economic impact report, which concluded that the annual cost of a replacement, all-paid fire service would be $3.87 billion. Furthermore, property taxes in New York state would rise by an estimated average of 26.5 percent. These figures do not factor in the costs of acquiring the necessary facilities and equipment needed to accommodate a paid fire service.
Established in 2011, RecruitNY is a joint undertaking by the Firemen’s Association of the State of New York, the New York State Association of Fire Chiefs, Association of Fire Districts of New York State, Volunteer Fire Police Association of the State of New York, and County Fire Coordinators Association of the State of New York.
For area residents looking to find if their fire department is participating in RecruitNY, log on to recruitny.org. For more information, contact your local fire department via a non-emergency phone number.
For fire departments that
would like to sign up for RecruitNY, log on to www. recruitny.org and fill out the participation form. The program provides fire departments with access to recruitment resources, communication tools, posters, banners, and more.