NY Volunteer Firefighters Saving Money While Saving Lives

Vestal, NY (WBNG Binghamton) A recent report indicates volunteer fire departments save New York’s tax payers billions of dollars each year.

According to the report by the Firemen’s Association of the State of New York (FASNY), volunteer firefighters save New York State taxpayers $3 billion annually– due to volunteers serving without pay.

“We’re volunteers from the chief right on down to the newest member, so there’s nothing by way of payroll,” said Vestal Fire Department Public Information Officer Walt Schlundt.

If the volunteers were paid, Schlundt feels the results would be drastic.

“Major increase to be able to man the departments or the stations,” Schlundt said.

The report goes on to note if all of New York’s volunteer firefighters became paid firefighters, property tax rates would increase by an average of 26 percent in municipalities to provide that payment—with some seeing an increase of as little as three percent, and others seeing an increase of more than 120 percent.

Also according to the report, volunteer departments reduced their response times in recent years. In 2010, the average response time was 7.9 seconds. In 2013, that time dropped 2.5 percent– to 7.7 seconds.

Suburban departments saw the biggest response time drop in that time frame, when compared to urban and rural departments. Between 2010 and 2013, the average suburban response time dropped from eight seconds to 7.2 seconds.

Volunteer departments have often received some criticism for not having response times as fast as paid departments, which have firefighters at the fire station around the clock.

Volunteers normally receive a call on a pager, then must travel to the fire station to pick up gear before heading to the scene, according to Schlundt.

However, the volunteers say the extra time doesn’t affect their ability to get out to the scene in a timely manner.

“We do have to respond from our homes, but we do generally try to get here just as fast as we can. We do want to be professional about our response,” said Vestal Fire Department Volunteer Firefighter John Musser. “We want to try to make sure the people that we serve in the Town of Vestal get the best care that they can get.”

The report also suggests the state would need to pay $5.9 billion to acquire all fire stations, vehicles and equipment.

Additionally municipalities would need to hire 30 thousand additional firefighters, if all firefighters were paid to meet fire coverage standards.