VARNA, N.Y. — As the state of New York navigates a volunteer firefighter recruitment and retention crisis, one fire company has doubled its crew by recruiting local college students.

“We're definitely on the younger side,” said Gabe Preciado, a medical student at Cornell University who volunteers in his free time. “But, yeah, we're passionate and we take things seriously. We train as much as we have to, and we jump on every opportunity that we can.”

According to Chief Mason Jager, the crew once only had about 40 members, but now during the school year, they have 80, which he credits to the culture and connection among students.

Preciado first found it to be a good opportunity to get some experience as a first responder before getting into a hospital setting, but now he plans to become a career firefighter after graduation.

“I love it. I feel like I was lucky enough to have an experience with a department that's, as you know, as unified and as much of a family as it is here,” Preciado said.

As fire departments continue to try to boost recruitment, they encourage anyone with special skills — from accounting and public relations to being able to drive the firetruck — to reach out and consider volunteering.

Related links:

Part I: Double duty: Farmer and firefighter grapples with recruitment crisis

Part II: Examining the relationship between public policy and volunteer firefighter shortage

Part III: Fire company boosts recruitment by building relationships