SPENCERPORT, N.Y. — Like much of the country, New York state is finding it difficult to attract people to become volunteer firefighters — at a time they are needed more than ever.

Contrary to what many people think, most firefighting is not done by career firefighters who receive a paycheck. In fact, it’s estimated that in New York, about 80% to 90% of the calls are handled by volunteers — volunteers who have to go through virtually the same training as their paid counterparts.

And that training is intense.

In the tight-knit community of Spencerport, New York, a group of folks who hold down jobs, go to school and parent their children, willingly enter a burning building.

It's part of the training they are taking part in to become volunteer firefighters.

“I like a challenge," says Spencerport resident Amanda White. “My whole life I had what I would label as a calling to serve and help people, and it seemed like a perfect way to do it.”

This training class is hosted by the Spencerport Fire Department and Captain Jake Bromage.

“We take them from, not necessarily knowing anything, up to the point where they can respond to emergency incidents,” he said.

The program lasts about three months and involves classroom work and hands-on training.

“Training stops the day you retire,” said Captain Bromage. “This is a continual process. When I moved into the area, I joined in 2010, I'm embarrassed to say I didn't know it was a volunteer department.”

It’s estimated over the last two decades, New York state has gone from having some 120,000 volunteer firefighters and EMS personnel down to as low as 80,000.

This comes as the frequency of calls increases, and those calls become more complex.

Officials say there are several reasons for the decrease in volunteers, but the number one reason is: people say they don’t have time.

While that’s a challenge for Amanda, it’s not stopping the single mom with two jobs. On this day, she and the other recruits are experiencing training with their first live fire.

“We have to remind them that the person most responsible for their safety is themselves,” said Captain Bromage. “We go in as pairs so you check your partner.”

Recruits are trained by veteran firefighters like safety officer Terry Brown, who spent a career coming through the ranks.

“It's very physically and mentally challenging, but we have an awesome group of trainers, and we really have to rely on them and then the other people in the department,” said White. “It's a really big, brotherhood, sisterhood, like they say.”

The veteran firefighter safety officers are trying to teach the up-and-coming volunteers everything they know — especially when it comes to safety.

Captain Bromage spoke about the first live-fire his recruits trained through.

“It's a large concrete and steel building, where we can have very controlled fires, and this was their first experience about being inside in an environment where if they take their mask off, they will hurt themselves, and potentially could die, because of the high temperature,” he said. “So, that was their first experience in fire.”

After, recruit Rich Healy described the experience.

“You could see fire come up to the ceiling and move out,” he said. “Then there are different layers of smoke, and then when you’re on the bottom it’s a lot cooler and you put your hand in the air and it’s a lot hotter than it is, and that’s when we're low on the ground.”

“It made me more confident that I'm doing what I am supposed to be doing, what I’m meant to be doing,” Amanda White said.

The recruits moved one step closer to being prepared to save lives — an accomplishment for both the up-and-coming firefighters and the experienced veterans showing them the ropes.

“It’s an honor,” said Captain Bromage. “I mean, to have the chance to steer someone in the right direction early in their career to instill those values, virtues. Very important. It really is a privilege.”

The Firemen’s Association of the State of New York and the Spencerport Fire Department both say that if you want to volunteer, there is a place for you in your local volunteer fire department, no matter what your skill level.

To learn more about becoming a volunteer firefighter, visit fireinyou.org.