Fire companies plan open houses, demos to recruit volunteers
More than 300 volunteer fire departments across New York are planning open houses to recruit new members, according to a statewide association of firefighters.
The Firemen’s Association of the State of New York will hold the seventh annual RecruitNY weekend on April 29-30.
Volunteer firefighters at several local departments have joined the statewide effort and will conduct open houses and other events, ncluding firehouse tours, demonstrations of firefighting techniques as well as allow visitors to try on gear.
Among the companies in Oneida and Madison counties that will be participating, the following fire companies will hold events on Saturday, April 29, according to www.recruitny.org:
- Chittenango, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., open house and recruitment;
- Deerfield, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Demonstrations including operating hoselines, EMS and firefighter demos, Jaws of life demonstration as well as rigs on display from Kunkel Ambulance;
- Hamilton, begins at 11 a.m., open house with fire safety demos and promotional brochures;
- McConnellsville, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., open house and recruitment;
- Morrisville, 1 to 3 p.m., open house and recruitment;
- Munnsville, begins at 9 a.m., open house and recruitment;
- New Hartford, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., open house with apparatus and equipment displays .
- Oriskany, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., free pancake breakfast, with kids fire fighter challenge and jaws demos along with fire prevention information.;
- Otter Lake, 9 a.m. to noon, demonstrations, tours, food and beverages.;
- Verona, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. open house, set-up of apparutus including department’s new engine, drills, and chicken barbecue at noon (take out only);
- Wampsville,9 a.m. to 1 p.m., open house and recruitment;
- Woodgate, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., tours of apparatus and station, child firefighter/EMS games, emergency safety practice house on site, “Fire Extinguisher 101” presentation, chainsaw safety demo,
- EMS LifePak 15 and presentation; and
- Yorkville, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., EMS and firefighter demonstration, hydraulic rescue equipment demonstration.
- One local company will host its event on Sunday, April 30.
The Whitesboro Fire Department will host an open house from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. The event will feature station tours, apparatus displays, an interactive demonstration on how to properly use a fire extinguisher and a chicken barbecue.
Residents can find additional information on various participating local departments, including contact information, at the recruitny website. The Firemen’s Association of the State of New York represents about 110,000 volunteer firefighters and emergency medical personnel in the state.