FAIRPORT, N.Y. — Governor Cuomo has signed legislation that will create a task force to look into the problem of declining volunteerism at volunteer fire stations across the state.

For a year now, the Fairport, Egypt, and the Bushnell’s Basin volunteer fire departments have worked together on recruitment in Perinton.

What You Need To Know

  • New legislation will create a task force looking into the problem of declining volunteerism at volunteer fire stations

  • Recruiting volunteers and keeping them can be a challenge

  • Some at the Fairport, Egypt, and the Bushnell’s Basin volunteer fire departments say the task force is a step in the right direction

“Our borders don’t really mean much at the end of the day because, we help each other out so much and train with each other," Fairport Fire Captain Dan Riordan said. "And most of our kids are going to the same school together.”

This year, recruitment for the three departments has been good, which they say may be due to COVID-19 creating a sense of duty...or just boredom.

But, typically recruiting volunteers and also keeping them is a challenge.

“The commitment to being able to join the fire service isn’t trivial," said Dan Sheehan, a board member with the Egypt Fire Department. "It does require dedication, commitment, and there are some training elements to it. So to get those members over the years has become less and less frequent.”

That’s a problem Governor Cuomo wants to address, signing a bill that created a New York State Recruitment and Retention Task Force to study the problem.

“An effort by the state to help us, that can lead us in the right direction of really beefing up our numbers again,” Riordan said.

Sheehan hopes the state will eventually incentivize volunteerism, as awareness and the time commitment are big issues.

“Whether through tax breaks or other opportunities that make it worthwhile for volunteers to consider, it perpetuates the profession, and it allows us to sustain,” Sheehan said.

And vice president Bill Morris of Bushnell’s Basin Fire Department hopes the state will tighten the training, which would help with retention.

“It’s a lot of nice to haves, rather than what do we really need to have," Morris said. "And for someone that is volunteering, it’s very tough for them to justify that.”

But all men agree this task force is a step in the right direction, with volunteerism on the decline all across the country.

“This has to be the number one priority. And the fact that we have a governor who is going to take a look at it to see what he could potentially do to make it better or easier for us to go after and maintain and sustain members? That’s huge.” Sheehan said.

Those interested in volunteering for any of the three departments can email recruiting@perintonfire.com.