Volunteer fire departments in central New York are having a difficult time getting enough trucks out of their firehouses.
When a call comes in at night, the Baldwinsville Fire Department is able to roll two trucks from each of its three stations. But district chief Tom Perkins says during the day, when volunteer firefighters are at their day jobs, it’s usually just one, "but they’re not going to be fully staffed."
Perkins says fewer volunteer firefighters in central New York also means departments no longer able to always back each other up during a major call.
"We will send a piece of equipment, when called, but rarely can we answer the call like we used to," he said.
Recruitment efforts by the statewide volunteer firefighters associated has boosted numbers. More than 12,000 people enrolled at their local firehouses in the first years of thee effort. That’s after two decades of declining numbers.
Perkins says the amount of training required at the beginning can scare people away. "Maybe that’s what bothers people," he said. "That first year is a commitment, but after that, I don’t say it’s easy because we still have department training, but it lessens."
Local fire chiefs say lifestyles have changed and people are simply busier than they were decades ago. But departments are encouraging people to go to recruiting fairs, learn about the commitment level and consider volunteering.
