Professional Firefighters’ Group Calls Report on Volunteers Flawed
The New York State Professional Firefighters Association released a statement on Thursday calling a report by the Firemen’s Association of the State of New York flawed.
The report released Tuesday by FASNY discusses the economic benefits of volunteer fire departments, including how they save state taxpayers over $3 billion each year.
Some of the qualms NYSPFFA had with the report included its failure to acknowledge the differences between paid firefighters and volunteer firefighters. According to the release, there are differences in availability, qualifications, service quality, accountability and response times.
“Our field of play is unlimited; high-rise buildings, underground and confined spaces, hazardous materials, contagions, even acts of terror,” said Sam Fresina, NYSPFFA secretary treasurer in the release. “The members of a volunteer fire squad fill a commendable role in providing suppression and prevention services, but it’s not a comparable one to career firefighters.”
NYSPFFA also said the number of volunteer firefighters is often inflated. Rosters tend to include members who are retired, moved or who are not interior qualified.
The group released a report of its own, “The Myths of Replacing Professional Firefighters with Volunteers,” highlighting in more detail some of their issues with FASNY’s study.
President of FASNY Robert McConville responded to NYSPFFA’s release with a statement reinforcing his belief in the study.
“We have tremendous respect for our career brothers and sisters and the work they do. However, we stand by the findings of this report, which is the most in-depth, comprehensive study of its kind. It clearly shows that the dedicated men and women of the volunteer fire service not only provide professional emergency response but also save their community resident taxpayers billions of dollars a year.”