This weekend, fire stations will be opening their doors to the public, hoping to attract new volunteers as part of a statewide recruitment program called “Volunteer New York.”
Fire crews will be hosting various events at their stations aimed at generating interest in firefighting, hoping to add new members to their ranks, as part of a larger push by the Firemen’s Association of the State of New York.
The Norwich Fire Department will have an open house from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, at which its members will perform several demonstrations involving emergency vehicle extractions, fire hose operation, CPR, the role of fire police and a power point presentation.
Norwich First Assistant Chief Jan Papelino said his goal is for Norwich to sign up at least six new volunteers. Papelino said the event won’t be like the station’s annual open house, because the activities are being specially aimed at allowing perspective volunteers to have a “hands-on experience.”
“We want people to have a good experience and see what things are about. We just don’t want to be demonstrating all day – we want people to try some things out, too,” said Papelino. He explained that participants will be invited to handle heavy equipment, try on gear and participate in other activities under supervision, including operating the jaws of life.
“If you’ve ever really thought about signing up, or weren’t sure, then this is a good weekend to come see us,” said Papelino.
Norwich will also have most of it members on hand, including fire police and EMS staff.
Chenango County Fire Coordinator Matthew Beckwith said North Norwich will hold a hold a pancake breakfast on Saturday from 7 to 11 a.m.; Brisben has an open house from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Plymouth has a pancake breakfast on Sunday from 7 to 11 a.m. and other departments, including Oxford, have announced they intend to have similar events.
Papelino said volunteering in the Norwich Fire Department has led many members into a career when they were later hired into the ranks of paid staff.
“I think especially for Norwich, it’s a good way to get your foot in the door with the possibility of becoming a paid fireman. Most of them were volunteers at one time,” he said.
Papelino said those in the service share a close bond with each other and the community. He recalled a number of occasions in which the department banned together to help an ailing or injured member. He said he and a few other firemen went to the home of an injured colleague this past winter after he suffered a serious injury. The men cut a winter’s supply of firewood for him and his family.
Chenango’s Deputy Fire Coordinator Michael Beckwith said a number of people in the service are like family.
“I volunteer to go help people in my community because God forbid anything should happen to my family, I know someone will come help me,” he said. “The majority of people are just neighbors wanting to help neighbors.”
While the statewide initiative will highlight the duties and rewards of being a volunteer firefighter, it will also raise public awareness about the increasing need for volunteers.
“The bottom line is the volunteer ranks are probably the lowest I’ve seen them in a long time,” said Papelino, who’s been in the fire service for more than 32 years.
“Are people’s houses going to burn down because no one shows up? No, that’s not the case. But we need to notify the public that is a serious, growing concern,” said Beckwith.
Beckwith recalled instances in the last year in which some emergency calls were handled entirely by neighboring departments offering mutual aid. He said on that occasion the home department was unable to rally enough volunteers to respond, so a general call to all nearby departments was issued.
“Back in the day, mutual aid wasn’t like it is today. There would be a serious accident or fire and you’d see possibly two different departments there, but now we have three or four all the time,” said Michael Beckwith.
“Some can’t be around in the day time. As a volunteer we have our own lives, jobs. Unfortunately businesses aren’t allowing their workers to respond as they used to,” said Matt Beckwith. He said many full-time corporate employers used to allow their workers to leave in an emergency, but that’s seen decline over the last two decades.
The Firemen’s Association of the State of New York (FASNY) worked in conjunction with the New York State Association of Fire Chiefs, Association of Fire Districts of New York State, Volunteer Fire Police Association of the State of New York and County Fire Coordinators Association of the State of New York to make this program possible.