[ad_1]
Wednesday, March 13, 2024 08:20 pm
The New York State Fire Department will be open the weekend of April 13-14
Submitted by New York State Firefighters Association
To kick off the 15th Annual RecruitNY Weekend, the New York State Firefighters Association recently released a survey on New York State residents’ perceptions of volunteer firefighters. Results showed that 49% of New Yorkers expressed interest in becoming volunteer firefighters.
RecruitNY is FASNY’s primary recruiting program designed to help increase the number of volunteer members in local fire departments. This year’s RecruitNY weekend will be held April 13-14. Nearly 90 percent of New York State’s fire departments are volunteer, and during the second weekend in April, these departments will open their doors to residents. This is a great opportunity for individuals and families to learn more about joining a local volunteer fire department.
According to data from the FASNY survey, two-thirds of respondents (66%) said they would visit their local fire station to get more information about becoming a volunteer, while 55% would turn to Google. The survey provides further details on public perceptions of the value these dedicated volunteers provide to their communities, as well as how residents feel about their own volunteering. The survey also highlighted The New Yorker’s strong views on volunteer firefighters and emergency medical services providers:
√ 79% of New Yorkers say saving lives or helping people in need is the most interesting impact of firefighting.
√ 98% agree that “volunteer firefighters and emergency medical services are important to the health and safety of the community,” and 94% say they respect firefighters.
“This year’s annual RecruitNY event comes at a time when we continue to see a strong need for more volunteer firefighters. It’s encouraging that almost half of our community is interested in answering the call,” said FASNY President Edward Tase Jr. “We are very pleased to see so many New Yorkers surveyed expressing interest in becoming a volunteer firefighter. I invite everyone to stop by their local department and see what it means to be a volunteer firefighter.”
During RecruitNY weekend, the public is invited to tour local fire stations, where volunteer firefighters tour their facilities, demonstrate firefighting techniques and allow visitors to try on firefighting gear. These events allow visitors to experience what the fire department is all about. Volunteer firefighters will also be on hand to discuss the requirements and rewards for joining. All are welcome and encouraged to attend, including families with children.
“Over the past 20 years, New York State’s volunteer firefighter force has significantly decreased by approximately 40,000 personnel,” said FASNY Secretary John D’Alessandro. “Due to factors such as economic instability and busy schedules, recruiting new firefighters and retaining existing firefighters has become a challenge. It’s getting harder and harder. This weekend is a great time to meet your fellow volunteer firefighters and learn how you can help the community.”
FASNY works to develop and implement programs and activities to assist New York’s more than 1,700 volunteer fire departments in recruiting new volunteers. This includes using federal SAFER grant funds for programs such as Fire in You outreach and recruitment training sessions. FASNY is also currently pursuing several pieces of legislation in Albany to increase benefits and incentives to recognize the service of volunteer firefighters.
RecruitNY Weekend is sponsored annually by Lincoln Financial.
“We would like to thank our friends at Lincoln Financial Corporation for their continued support of the RecruitNY program – it is an important part of our efforts to assist local fire departments in participating in the program,” Tas said.
Individuals wishing to learn about their fire department’s participation in RecruitNY can visit http://www.recruitny.org/participation-area/. For more information, contact your local volunteer fire department at their non-emergency phone number or their website.
More about Fasni
The New York State Firefighters Association was founded in 1872 and represents the interests of the 80,000 volunteer firefighters in New York State. For more information, please visit www.fasny.com.
[ad_2]
Source link