State Firemen’s Association partners with MVCC for tuition program

UTICA, N.Y. — With fewer new faces passing through doors like these each year, volunteer fire companies across New York have seen their ranks dwindle. And the decline creates a noticeable difference in response.

Whitesboro Fire Chief Peter Sobel said, “As first responders we need to get to the incident quickly, to help save lives and property preservation and those that have less members certainly will feel those effects. The communities will feel those effects.”

And while no one knows the exact figures, the fireman’s association says the drop in volunteers is significant.

David Jacobowitz, President of the Fireman’s Association of the State of New York, said, “From 130,000 to 100,000, now we’re talking 88,000 to 90,000 volunteers across the state and the problem is that’s just a guesstimate because no one’s actually reached out to departments and asking them how many there are.”

That’s why FASNY has announced a statewide initiative they hope will draw a new generation of recruits, called HELP, or Higher Education Learning Plan. MVCC, along with other community colleges in the state, will reimburse students for tuition in exchange for serving on a local volunteer fire department. They must first submit an application to FASNY online and the reimbursement depends on success in the classroom.

Randall VanWagoner, MVCC President, explained, “If they get a 4.0, then the entire tuition and fees are paid for. A 3.0, 80 percent and 2.0, 75 percent of the tuition is paid for, so there’s and incentive there to be successful.”

FASNY hopes to recruit at least 15,000 new volunteer firefighters to New York state with their tuition reimbursement program. However the fall deadline for applications is fast approaching on October 1st.

FASNY stresses, though, that even if you miss the deadline for fall semester, submit your application anyway and you’ll be considered for next semester’s program.