Open house weekend at area firehouses

Volunteer fire departments across the state will open their doors this weekend holding open houses in an unprecedented effort to recruit new members.

The effort is being coordinated by the Fireman’s Association of the State of New York. As part of the open house weekend, local volunteer departments will welcome visitors and conduct demonstrations showing what it takes to be a volunteer firefighter.

Volunteer departments across the state have had a tough time recruiting and retaining volunteer firefighters in recent years. The open house and recruiting drive is an attempt to increase the ranks of emergency responders.

Later today, organizers will release a schedule of open houses in our area.