Local fire departments breath a sigh of relief as state lifts CDL requirement
ALBANY – The Brisben Volunteer Fire Department participated in both the Oxford and Greene Memorial Day parades this Monday, something they wouldn’t have been able to do without the efforts of state lawmakers and the signature of the governor himself.
“Firefighters perform an extraordinarily honorable and valuable service for our communities. We need to do everything we can to ensure that they are not needlessly burdened in carrying out their essential tasks,” Governor David Paterson said in a statement issued on Friday, shortly after he signed legislation which amended the state’s vehicle and traffic law.
The amendment allows non-commercially licensed firefighters and emergency responders to once more drive emergency vehicles to and from emergency situations, as well as for training, public education and other official duties, including parades.
“(This) relieves a huge burden on our departments,” said Chenango County Fire Coordinator Matt Beckwith.
According to Brisben Fire Chief Brian Burt, his department would not have been able to have trucks in both parades on Monday had the governor not signed the legislation on Friday. His major concern regarding the CDL requirement was not related to participation in either parade.
“The biggest thing I saw was morale,” Burt said. Because of the law, he said, volunteers who had countless hours of training and had been operating fire apparatus for many years were no longer able to drive those trucks. That was a blow to his department, which is comprised of just 20 active volunteers.
Still, Burt recognized that he was more fortunate than other local fire districts, even some of the larger ones. “We have seven people in our department with a CDL,” he explained. Because most of those individuals worked out of town, however, the requirement still hindered Brisben’s ability to fully perform their duties.
“I think it is a relief ... for the fire service in general,” said Greene Fire Chief Dan Montgomery, and volunteer departments like his own in particular. According to the new chief, who assumed leadership of the Greene Volunteer Fire Department in April, there are more than 60 active volunteers on the departments “roll.” Only a handful, he said, have a CDL.
While the signing was called timely by lawmakers because it allowed for fire departments to participate more fully in Memorial Day parades and events held Monday around the state, Montgomery and other local fire leaders said change was needed for a more important reason.
“It’s the training factor,” Montgomery explained. Now that the CDL requirement has been lifted, his department and others around the state will be able to resume properly training their personnel on all types of equipment.
Firefighters will still be required to complete the Emergency Vehicle Operation Course and be signed off by their local chief, Beckwith explained. This training, he said, is “above and beyond CDL training anyway.”
Beckwith also said he believed that the CDL requirements made it even more difficult for volunteer departments to recruit new members, something they already struggle with. Now, he said, there will no longer be that deterrent.
“I appreciate everyone’s support on this,” Beckwith said, thanking state Senators Jim Seward and Tom Libous as well as Assemblymen Cliff Crouch and Pete Lopez for their work in pushing the legislation forward. “It really did go through relatively quickly.”
Though the law which changed the CDL requirements went into effect in 2005, the fire service was not made aware of the change until earlier this year, he explained. As soon as state lawmakers were contacted about the possible repercussions, “they understood,” Beckwith said. “They acted and responded to that.”
Once the legislation passed both the senate and assembly on Thursday, no time was wasted in getting it to Paterson for his approval.
“They basically ran it down the hallway to put it on the governor’s desk,” Beckwith said.
Assemblyman Pete Lopez, who along with Crouch co-sponsored the legislation in the state assembly, said he understood the need to get the amendment passed as quickly as possible.
“Our volunteers need and deserve our full support and attention to continue their vital service.” said Lopez.
“Firefighters perform an extraordinarily honorable and valuable service for our communities. We need to do everything we can to ensure that they are not needlessly burdened in carrying out their essential tasks,” Governor David Paterson said in a statement issued on Friday, shortly after he signed legislation which amended the state’s vehicle and traffic law.
The amendment allows non-commercially licensed firefighters and emergency responders to once more drive emergency vehicles to and from emergency situations, as well as for training, public education and other official duties, including parades.
“(This) relieves a huge burden on our departments,” said Chenango County Fire Coordinator Matt Beckwith.
According to Brisben Fire Chief Brian Burt, his department would not have been able to have trucks in both parades on Monday had the governor not signed the legislation on Friday. His major concern regarding the CDL requirement was not related to participation in either parade.
“The biggest thing I saw was morale,” Burt said. Because of the law, he said, volunteers who had countless hours of training and had been operating fire apparatus for many years were no longer able to drive those trucks. That was a blow to his department, which is comprised of just 20 active volunteers.
Still, Burt recognized that he was more fortunate than other local fire districts, even some of the larger ones. “We have seven people in our department with a CDL,” he explained. Because most of those individuals worked out of town, however, the requirement still hindered Brisben’s ability to fully perform their duties.
“I think it is a relief ... for the fire service in general,” said Greene Fire Chief Dan Montgomery, and volunteer departments like his own in particular. According to the new chief, who assumed leadership of the Greene Volunteer Fire Department in April, there are more than 60 active volunteers on the departments “roll.” Only a handful, he said, have a CDL.
While the signing was called timely by lawmakers because it allowed for fire departments to participate more fully in Memorial Day parades and events held Monday around the state, Montgomery and other local fire leaders said change was needed for a more important reason.
“It’s the training factor,” Montgomery explained. Now that the CDL requirement has been lifted, his department and others around the state will be able to resume properly training their personnel on all types of equipment.
Firefighters will still be required to complete the Emergency Vehicle Operation Course and be signed off by their local chief, Beckwith explained. This training, he said, is “above and beyond CDL training anyway.”
Beckwith also said he believed that the CDL requirements made it even more difficult for volunteer departments to recruit new members, something they already struggle with. Now, he said, there will no longer be that deterrent.
“I appreciate everyone’s support on this,” Beckwith said, thanking state Senators Jim Seward and Tom Libous as well as Assemblymen Cliff Crouch and Pete Lopez for their work in pushing the legislation forward. “It really did go through relatively quickly.”
Though the law which changed the CDL requirements went into effect in 2005, the fire service was not made aware of the change until earlier this year, he explained. As soon as state lawmakers were contacted about the possible repercussions, “they understood,” Beckwith said. “They acted and responded to that.”
Once the legislation passed both the senate and assembly on Thursday, no time was wasted in getting it to Paterson for his approval.
“They basically ran it down the hallway to put it on the governor’s desk,” Beckwith said.
Assemblyman Pete Lopez, who along with Crouch co-sponsored the legislation in the state assembly, said he understood the need to get the amendment passed as quickly as possible.
“Our volunteers need and deserve our full support and attention to continue their vital service.” said Lopez.
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