N.Y. firefighters looking to fill shrinking ranks

Every year, the number of emergency calls to the Waterford-Halfmoon Fire Department increases. It’s that way at other area fire departments too.

“This year, we are already running ahead of pace,” said volunteer fireman John D’Alessandro “We’ve already had 210 calls since January.”

“Most people are fearful and hesitant of joining because of the time commitment,” he said.

Now, a steady decrease of new members has sparked an effort called Recruit New York.

On Saturday and Sunday, fire departments like Waterford-Halfmoon’s will open the doors of their firehouses to highlight the duties and benefits of being a volunteer firefighter. The event coincides with National Volunteer Week.

“Generally our connection with the people in the community is when something terrible is happening,” D’Alessandro said. “This is a way for us to reach out to the community on a more positive note.”

D’Alessandro, a volunteer firefighter for almost two years, and his colleagues will show community members their department’s facilities and help them try on bunker gear.

“It sounds like a cliche, but the real benefit is the satisfaction of helping your fellow residents when they’re in need or having one of the worse days of their life,” said D’Alessandro.

He decided to volunteer when his 14-year-old son, Evan, came to him and said he wanted to be a career firefighter. “So I told him he when he turned 16, he could start his training, and I would join with him,” the father said. “On his 16th birthday, he came to me and said, ‘It’s time to keep your promise.’ That day we signed up together.”

The Waterford-Halfmoon department has 55 to 60 active members, 15 to 20 whom respond to most of the calls, which average two a day.

Recruit New York was organized by the Firemen’s Association of the State of New York, the New York State Association of Fire Chiefs, Association of Fire Districts of New York State, Volunteer Fire Police Association of the State of New York and County Fire Coordinators Association of the State of New York.

“Volunteer firefighters and EMS personnel do important and challenging work for the pure satisfaction of helping others,” said FASNY President David Jacobowitz. “They are essential for a number of reasons, including the fact that volunteers live in the communities in which they serve, which greatly enhances response times. Their volunteer service saves taxpayers millions of dollars every year.”