NY fire companies college tuition reimbursement

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — Volunteer fire companies in New York are trying a new way to attract members: community college tuition reimbursement.

The Firemen’s Association of the State of New York has a new program that will allow student-volunteers to be reimbursed for up to 80 credit hours from a local community college. Participants will be eligible to have up to 100 percent of their tuition reimbursed depending on their grades and membership standing in a volunteer fire company.

About three-quarters of New York state’s firefighters are volunteers, and many companies say they are stretched thin.

The program is made possible through a grant from Homeland Security