Saturday, May 17, 2025
Volunteer fire departments across New York state will open their doors to the public the weekend of April 26–27 as part of the 16th annual RecruitNY campaign, an effort aimed at boosting volunteer membership in local fire departments.
The statewide event is organized by the Firefighters Association of the State of New York (FASNY).
As part of the campaign, FASNY will also relaunch its “Light Up NY Red” initiative to raise awareness about the need for volunteer firefighters. April 21-27, residents, businesses, landmarks and government buildings are encouraged to display red lighting in support of the effort.
“We are hoping that all New Yorkers will help us shine the ‘light’ red for the recruitment of volunteer firefighters across the state this April,” said FASNY President Eugene Perry. “FASNY is working with state and local officials to get some of New York’s biggest landmarks involved in this program again this year. It would be great to see even more participation in support of this initiative, and to help departments gain more volunteers.”
Notable landmarks that participated in last year’s campaign included Niagara Falls State Park, the JMA Wireless Dome at Syracuse University, and several county and municipal buildings in Nassau and Suffolk counties.
“These lights symbolize FASNY’s commitment to a tradition of community and a sense of camaraderie, and we are very grateful for the support,” Perry said.
Volunteer fire departments statewide continue to face challenges such as declining membership and increasing emergency call volumes. According to FASNY, New York has about 40,000 fewer volunteer firefighters than it did two decades ago. Economic pressures, time constraints and other lifestyle demands have made recruiting and retaining volunteers more difficult.
Volunteer firefighters respond to a variety of emergencies, including fires, medical calls, vehicle accidents, downed power lines and lithium battery incidents. Officials say increasing volunteer ranks is essential to maintaining public safety.
“We need to attract and maintain volunteers in order to provide adequate protection for our communities,” said Scott A. Thebold, president of the S.C. Firefighters Association and a member of the Yaphank Fire Department. “The problem is that we get many who volunteer, we train them, and then they leave, primarily because of the lack of affordable housing on Long Island.”
“Young people join, but then go to college, get married and move away simply because they can’t afford to live on Long Island,” he said. “We have to do whatever we can to address this issue and keep volunteerism alive.”
Kevin McFlynn, president of the Nassau County Firefighters Association, echoed those concerns.
“To me the biggest problem is affordability here in Nassau,” McFlynn said. “Nassau is a very expensive place to live, which means that most people have to have two jobs and don’t have the time to give to be a volunteer.”
He added that times have changed: “It’s not like when a local businessman could hear the fire alarm, lock his doors and go serve the community — that’s just not something they can do anymore.”
McFlynn emphasized the urgency of bringing in new recruits, noting that many departments rely on aging volunteers.
“I can’t do what I did when I was 20 years old, like climb ladders and drag hoses,” he said. “I hope the RecruitNY campaign encourages more people to participate and volunteer.”
The Lakeview Fire Department, located at 891 Woodfield Rd., West Hempstead, will be open to the public on April 27. “Whether hanging banners and handing out flyers or hosting an open house, we always work closely with RecruitNY to increase our membership,” said Chief Stefan Fisher. “We try to take initative and recruit on our own as well. We welcome any new membership at any time of the year.”
FASNY is encouraging communities to share their support for the “Light Up NY Red” campaign on social media using the hashtag #LightUpNYRed. Photos and captions can also be emailed to photos@fasny.com for possible inclusion in Volunteer Firefighter magazine and on FASNY’s social media platforms.
For more information about RecruitNY or to find a participating fire department, visit www.recruitny.org.
