02-04-2025
Niagara County volunteer fire companies raise alarm on shrinking memberships
With volunteer fire companies across Niagara County facing systemic shortages of new recruits, a renewed effort to attract the next generation is underway.
The county will be running a recruitment campaign throughout the month of April highlighting the 28 volunteer companies. It culminates with the weekend of April 26-27, when the Firefighters Association of the State of New York will host its annual RecruitNY campaign.
'You're probably thinking, I'm not a firefighter. I don't have the experience,' said Niagara County Fire Coordinator Jonathan Schultz, 'Neither did any of us standing up here today when we started. The training is provided, the equipment is provided, and there's no cost to you.'
Numerous efforts have been made statewide to entice residents to join local companies, including incentivizing people to enlist by offering a stipend for completing certain firefighter training courses. FASNY is also reimbursing state college tuition up to $1,500 per semester for volunteers in school.
Bob Snyder, the chief of Newfane's Miller Hose Fire Co., said they have 50 members, of which 20 to 25 are active firefighters. When he joined in the late 1980s, they had a maximum roster of 65 people.
'It's a struggle to try and get new people to join, mostly because they don't feel qualified to be a firefighter,' he said, adding his company gets more than 1,000 calls a year for fires and EMS. 'There's other jobs to do other than firefighters.'
Edward Tase, the past president for FASNY who worked at Frontier and South Lockport fire companies, said there are less than 80,000 volunteer firefighters statewide. He is urging state lawmakers to understand the value they bring and give them support through benefits and an increased income tax credit.
This past February, in response to a fire that took down Wilson's Lakeside Market, State Sen. Rob Ortt proposed bills that supported volunteer firefighter efforts, including extending tuition-free course benefits, creating wage tax credits for employers, creating a wage allowance, and allowing villages to bring in more volunteers living outside their boundaries.
Those interested can download the Prepare Niagara app, which has recruitment forms, or by contacting the County Emergency Management at 716-438-3171.
