By MES Dispatch staff
The Briefing
• Volunteer fire departments across New York State are pushing for legislation that would allow departments to provide stipends of up to $12,000 per year to volunteers.
• Fire officials say the proposal is intended to address ongoing recruitment and retention challenges as volunteer firefighter numbers have fallen to a 40-year low.
• The number of volunteers statewide has declined from about 120,000 in 2000 to roughly 80,000 today, according to the Firefighters Association of the State of New York (FASNY).
• Supporters argue modest compensation could help departments retain members, while others warn it could create inequities between departments with different financial resources.
• Fire service leaders and volunteers are meeting with lawmakers in Albany as discussions about potential legislative solutions continue.
SYRACUSE, NY — Volunteer fire departments across New York are urging lawmakers to consider legislation that would allow departments to provide stipends to volunteer firefighters as recruitment and retention challenges intensify statewide.
The proposal being discussed would allow departments to offer volunteers compensation of up to $12,000 per year. Fire service leaders say the measure is intended to encourage more people to join and remain in volunteer departments as call volumes and training requirements increase.
According to the Firefighters Association of the State of New York, the number of volunteer firefighters statewide has dropped from approximately 120,000 in 2000 to about 80,000 today, marking a 40-year low. Officials say the decline has created staffing challenges for many departments, particularly in smaller communities.
Volunteer leaders from Onondaga County and other regions have traveled to Albany to meet with state officials, including Gov. Kathy Hochul, to discuss potential solutions. Supporters of the proposal say compensation could serve as a tool to help struggling departments maintain staffing levels.
Some fire service organizations have proposed alternative incentives, including expanded tax credits, mileage reimbursements and childcare assistance, rather than direct payments. Officials said discussions are ongoing and no specific legislation has yet been finalized.