Oceanside Fire Department teams with local McDonalds to boost firefighter recruitment

The McDonald’s restaurant on 31-35 Atlantic Avenue in Oceanside helped out the Oceanside Fire Department in their recruiting campaign.

The restaurant began to display recruitment flyers by the restaurant drive-thru and on restaurant placemats Tuesday, Aug. 1st encouraging residents to volunteer. Volunteer firefighter recruitment has become difficult for many Fire departments over the past several years, for several factors.

Former Department chief Ed Scharfberg discussed some of the benefits of becoming a volunteer firefighter to educate residents about what it takes and the benefits of being a volunteer firefighter or emergency medical technician.

Along with the networking opportunities, the Fire department offers volunteers life insurance and a reduction in property taxes. The Oceanside department recently revamped its junior firefighter program, for anyone between 14 and 17 can join and learn about the responsibilities of firefighters and EMTs.

“It’s a good place for a kid who doesn’t fit in anywhere and it’s a great place for a teenager who doesn’t know what they want to do in life,” Scharfberg said. “We’re going to give them training, get them gear, they’re going to be able to participate in parades. They learn life skills and we have so many people from different walks of life, if they need a job, we can help them.”

With the dip in volunteer firefighting over the years, Scharfberg believes that young people have much to benefit from and said volunteer firefighting can serve as a positive experience for those young and old.

Several Colleges throughout New York State and other states will offer up to 25 percent off a four-year program’s tuition and fees or offer a bunk-in program that provides students the opportunity to train and respond to calls if they are Class A firefighters from their local municipality.

In exchange for serving as volunteers, including some required on-call shifts; students can live dormitory-style within a local firehouse near their university where they can use the department kitchen and other facilities free of financial charge. If they are not in class, they can study, sleep and relax. SUNY Cortland, Syracuse University, New York Institute of Technology, and SUNY Purchase are among the New York schools that coordinate with local departments to offer the program.

“We’re talking 12,000 to 15,000 you are going to save and there are many two year colleges that do this in upstate New York,” Scharfberg said.