After Year Away, Departments Rally Behind RecruitNY

By Shane M. Liebler, Senior Editor

In a challenging year for both recruitment and public events, more than 250 departments chose to host either virtual or traditional open houses for the 11th annual RecruitNY Weekend. After last year’s event was cancelled due to COVID-19 restrictions, departments across the State bounced back with another successful weekend that included many in-person events.

Departments of all sizes in every corner of the State marked April 24 and 25 with tours of their facilities, demonstrations of firefighting techniques, and allowing visitors to try on turnout gear to help add to the long list of recruits the event has earned since it started in 2011.

“Hundreds of volunteer fire departments across New York will be participating in RecruitNY. We invite all New Yorkers to attend an open house and safely experience what it means to be a volunteer firefighter,” FASNY President John P. Farrell, Jr. said prior to the event. “After the year we have been through, RecruitNY Weekend can provide people with the opportunity to interact with the responders who are dedicated to protecting them.”

FASNY has worked hard to develop and implement events to assist New York’s 1,700-plus volunteer fire departments recruit new volunteers. This includes utilizing federal SAFER grant funds for programs such as the “Fire in You” marketing campaign and the FASNY HELP college tuition reimbursement program.

The past several years have been challenging for volunteer fire departments throughout New York. Many are faced with decreased membership and increased call volume. The need to bolster their ranks is critical to providing optimum and necessary levels of protection for their residents.

RecruitNY Weekend is one way to do just that, but recruitny. org has resources departments can use to recruit year round. The website includes downloadable posters, flyers, yard signs, brochures and even a large-format banner to help spread the word about the need for volunteer firefighters.

A special thanks goes out to this year’s RecruitNY sponsor, Lincoln Financial Group.