Volunteer fire departments facing shortage of volunteers, ask state to act.
STUYVESANT, N.Y. (WNYT)- A shortage of volunteer firefighters in New York is raising safety concerns.
Related: Capital Region firefighter shortage reaching crisis levels
Fire officials say the number of volunteer firefighters has dropped to its lowest level in over 40 years, affecting small towns like Stuyvesant.
“You can’t expect a person who’s working a full-time job, driving an hour to work and back from work, with two kids and a family, and have to go take a class for three to four hours a night, for you know 15 weeks, two days a week…,” said Stuyvesant Fire Company Chief Steve Montie. “It’s just not feasible.”
In Albany Wednesday, there was a call for lawmakers to create new incentives to help recruit and retain members.
Fire officials from across the state gathered at the Capitol warning that the shortage is leading to serious consequences for public safety.
“Simple truth is we can no longer be confident that a fire truck or ambulance will arrive as quickly as the public expects or deserves when someone calls 911 in several of our communities,” said Virgil Fire District Fire Commissioner, David Denniston.
Related: Fort Johnson Volunteer Fire Company closed at the end of 2025
Officials are urging state lawmakers to pass legislation that would allow fire districts to offer compensation for mandatory on duty staffing at firehouses, saying that financial incentives could help ease the burden on working families and make volunteering more realistic.
However, not everyone is for this proposal. The New York State Professional Firefighters Association says the most effective way to ensure adequate fire protection is through fully staffed trained departments available 24-7.
The group supports a transition to combination departments, staffed by both paid firefighters and trained volunteers, calling it a proven model across New York State.
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