Fire officials and local leaders will gather in Baldwinsville on Wednesday, April 23, to launch a statewide push to recruit more volunteer firefighters. The event begins at 11 a.m. at Northwest Fire District Station #1 on Crego Road and marks the kickoff of the 16th annual RecruitNY Weekend, when firehouses across Onondaga County and New York State will open their doors April 26–27 to attract new members.
The Firefighters Association of the State of New York (FASNY) reports that nearly 90% of fire departments statewide are volunteer-based, but the number of volunteer firefighters has dropped by about 40,000 over the last two decades, even as emergency calls have increased. Currently, there are approximately 80,000 volunteer firefighters in New York.
During RecruitNY Weekend, firehouses throughout Central New York will host open houses, giving community members a chance to tour stations, try on gear, and learn how to get involved. According to FASNY, nearly half of New Yorkers have expressed interest in becoming a volunteer firefighter, and two-thirds say they’d visit their local firehouse to learn more.
A full list of participating departments is available at www.recruitny.org.
