ROMBOUT FIRE COMPANY TO PARTICIPATE IN 9TH ANNUAL STATEWIDE “RECRUITNY” WEEKEND TO HELP INCREASE NUMBER OF VOLUNTEER FIREFIGHTERS
Recruitment Open House to be Held at Rombout Headquarters on April 27 (Fishkill, N.Y.) As part of the ninth annual RecruitNY statewide initiative, Rombout Fire Company will open its doors to area residents so they can learn about what it takes to be a volunteer firefighter in their community.
The past several years have been challenging for volunteer fire departments across New York State, as many are struggling with decreased membership and increased call volume. Like most volunteer fire departments, the Rombout Fire Company needs to bolster its ranks so it can continue to provide the optimum and necessary level of protection for its residents.
As part of RecruitNY, on Saturday, April 27 between 12-4PM, the Rombout Fire Company located at 901 Main Street, Fishkill, NY will join volunteer fire departments across the New York State at their respective firehouses for a unified recruitment drive. Not only will RecruitNY be an opportunity to highlight the rewards and responsibilities that come with being a volunteer firefighter, it will also raise public awareness about the need for volunteers.
Throughout the day, the Rombout Fire Company will provide food, conduct tours of the station and firefighter apparatus, allow visitors to try on firefighter gear, and provide activities and fascinating informational opportunities throughout the firehouse for visitors. The fire department will discuss the requirements to be a volunteer as well as conduct demonstrations, answer questions, and let visitors know how to get involved in the fire departments.
Last year, more than 350 fire departments across the state held recruitment open houses. FASNY is planning for an even higher turnout this year.
“All are welcome to join us during RecruitNY,” said Captain Jeff Marino. “This is an excellent opportunity for people to meet their local volunteer firefighters and learn a bit more about the fire service. Volunteer firefighters are everyday heroes who dedicate their spare time to helping people in their times of need. We are always looking for new members, and it is our hope that after seeing the incredible camaraderie of the firehouse up close, more people will be interested in becoming a part of our very special family.”
Over the years, FASNY has worked exceptionally hard to build and deploy a multi-tiered plan for helping New York State’s 1,700-plus volunteer fire departments recruit more than 25,000 new volunteer firefighters across the state by utilizing federal SAFER grant funds for programs including the “Fire in You” advertising campaign, FASNY HELP community college tuition reimbursement program and recruitment training classes.
Established in 2011, RecruitNY is a joint undertaking by the Firemen’s Association of the State of New York (FASNY), the New York State Association of Fire Chiefs (NYSAFC), 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. For area residents looking for more information, or to find out if your fire department is participating in RecruitNY, visit wwww.recruitny.org or contact your local fire department via a non-emergency phone number, website or social media profile.