College tuition grant now offered to volunteer firefighters

The Fireman’s Association of New York State is now offering a college tuition reimbursement program to fire service volunteers as an incentive to attract new members.

Volunteers who have not received an associate’s degree or higher can have all of their tuition paid for as long as the applicant maintains good grades and meets minimum service requirements with a local fire company. The deadline for volunteer firefighters to apply for tuition reimbursement for the fall 2011 semester is Oct. 1, and the spring 2012 is Feb. 1, according to a FASNY news release.

The grant is being implemented using a $4,270,570 U.S. Department of Homeland Security Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response grant.

The group’s goal is to attract and maintain 15,189 new firefighters over the next four years.