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There is a High Demand for Volunteer Firefighters in CNY There Is A High Demand For Volunteer Firefighters in CNY

During the fall season, there is a high need for volunteer firefighters.

By Gabrielle Riles

Reporter: Alex Rea is a third-generation firefighter and he has been volunteering at the Onondaga Hill Fire Department since he was 16 years old.

He works at a gun store during the week as well a working 40 hours at the fire station. He says that on his off day there is no other place he rather be.

Rea: “It’s just giving back to the community … I have a huge passion for it so it’s never too much time to be spent here.”

Reporter: Each volunteer must attend in-class and hands-on training sessions over a five-month period to become a firefighter.

Rea: “It’s a hard-working and high-stress environment.”

Reporter: There are simulation facilities where volunteers are taught how to climb out of roofs, jump or climb into a window, and of course extinguish a fire.
Rea says that this job isn’t for everyone, that’s why there is such a need for volunteers.

Rea: “It’s a pretty dangerous field to be in so it’s kind of a catch 22 when you make the standards either too low or too high.”

Reporter: As exciting as it may seem to be a firefighter, the job is a heavy load, just like this suit.”

Reporter: Paul Hildreth, deputy chief of the Fayetteville Fire Department says there is a lack of people who are hired as career fighters because it is too expensive to pay them.

Hildreth: “It’s about one hundred and ten thousand dollars per employee…some departments budgets are four, five, six hundred thousand dollars.”

Reporter: Hildreth says he doesn’t think the lack of pay is the reason why people aren’t applying to become a volunteer, it’s because it’s a different generation.

Hildreth “I don’t know, we’re in trouble, kids like to play on the computer.”

SYRACUSE, N.Y. (NCC News)– At most fire stations there are more people that volunteer as a fighter then there are those who do it for a living.

That’s because there are more volunteering opportunities than there are jobs. Right now, there is a high demand for volunteer firefighters especially approaching the holidays.

“The spring and fall seem to be better to recruit and that’s when people are more giving too,” said Paul Hildreth, the deputy chief of the Fayetteville Fire Department.

Without volunteers, Hildreth says that there would be more fire stations sharing the number of calls that are received which means that they would have to travel further which can take up more time. That is why all fire departments are appreciative of those who volunteer.

“Without volunteers, you’re either going to have people not showing up for calls or you’re going to have to start confiscating and it’s expensive to put confiscating employees into place,” Hildreth said.

In order to become a volunteer, a person must pass a medical physical examination, a lung function test and a fitness test. Hildreth says if people can’t pass those requirements there are other places in the department that they can volunteer.

“If they don’t do their minimum requirements or if they can’t pass their physical part of it then we’ll have a conversation with them to see if there’s another role they can play in the organization,” Hildreth said.

Volunteers must be 18 or older and willing to commit to a 200-hour training course which includes in-class and hands-on sessions before becoming a firefighter.

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