Volunteer firefighters exemplify what it means to be a good community member. They selflessly give countless hours of their time to protect the homes, businesses and families in their communities. Unfortunately, though, recruitment and retention of volunteers is waning, and not enough is being done to buck the trend.

Volunteer recruitment has become a problem both here and around the U.S. The National Fire Protection Association noted that in 2020, there was a 6% decrease in volunteer firefighters year over year, and the total number was a near-record low. In New York, we have suffered a 32% decrease in volunteers over the last 30 years, which strains existing resources and puts our communities at risk.

Nearly all firefighting operations in New York are made up of volunteers, and that is especially true in rural areas of the state. Without these brave and dedicated men and women, the state’s emergency response capabilities would crumble, and the costs would be far greater than simply saving homeowners from a huge spike in their property taxes.

For these reasons, the Assembly Minority Conference has proposed several pieces of legislation to address recruitment and retention concerns from our state’s volunteer firehouses:

• A.6414 (Palmesano) –Provides a $400 tax credit to volunteer firefighters and ambulance workers, exempts registration and use taxes for vehicles used in the performance of duty, creates a loan forgiveness program, and provides additional benefits for those volunteering to keep communities safe; 
• A.4414 (Bologna) – Permits volunteer firefighters to attend mandatory training under 19 NYCRR 426 without risk of employer penalties; establishes tax incentives for employers who hire volunteer firefighters;
• A.1064 (Angelino) – Provides a state income tax credit of up to $2,500 for volunteer firefighters and volunteer ambulance corps members in good standing for a minimum of five years;
• A.2068 (Manktelow) – Authorizes excused leave for civil service employees who are members of volunteer fire departments or volunteer EMS/rescue squads during declared states of emergency at the federal, state or municipal level;
• A.3576 (Miller) – Allocates a portion of the public safety communications surcharge to support volunteer fire department initiatives and creates the New York State Volunteer Fire Department Auxiliary Fund.

While legislative solutions are a part of our recruitment plan, new laws alone are not enough to reinvigorate our volunteer fire departments. There is no substitute for authentic concern for one’s community, and the drive to help one’s neighbor ultimately must come from within. Tax incentives and reimbursements are great, but the best recruiting tool at our disposal is to simply appeal to civic-minded individuals directly: Your neighbor needs you, please consider the great value in volunteering and become a hero to your community.