NewsTalk: Study Shows Worth of Volunteer Firefighters

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) – Volunteer firefighters say their service saves New York communities more than $3 billion a year statewide.

A study released by The Fireman’s Association of the State of New York on Tuesday calculates that switching over to all-paid squads would cost $3.1 billion in pay and benefits annually, plus additional costs for maintaining living and eating quarters. There also would be a one-time cost of $5.9 billion for a statewide switchover.

There is no serious movement to pay all-volunteer squads, but officials with the firefighters’ group say they want to illustrate the value of volunteer squads.

There are about 100,000 volunteer firefighters in New York state.

Past FASNY President, David Jacobowitz, talks to Kristen Copeland on NewsTalk about the purpose of this study and how it’s to show the value of volunteer firefighters across the state.