Tuition reimbursement program meant to recruit firefighters

Call it a volunteer firefighter’s version of the G.I. Bill. At least as far as college tuition goes.

On Wednesday, Mohawk Valley Community College and the Firemen’s Association of New York announced a new program called FASNY HELP to aid volunteer firefighters in paying for tuition at community colleges around New York State.

While certainly helpful for current firefighters, the program is aimed at fanning the flames of volunteerism in local communities. Across New York, the number of volunteer firefighters has dropped in ten years from 100,000 to 88,000.

“Any volunteer firefighter in New York State can attend any community college in New York State as long as it’s within 50 miles from their community,” said Robert Girard, assistant volunteer programs coordinator for FASNY.

“We at MVCC are excited about the new possibilities this program will open up for people who are firefighters, or who are thinking about becoming firefighters,” MVCC President Randall VanWagoner said.