Long Island in need of more firefighters

Long Island is in dire need of more volunteer firefighters.

In Nassau, for example, just 6,000 men and women serve local departments — not enough to serve a county of nearly 1.5 million residents. Meanwhile, right here in Uniondale — a hamlet of over 32,000 people — there are roughly 124 active members, according to Uniondale Fire Chief Jessica Ellerbe.

“It’s a crisis,” said Michael Uttaro, Nassau County’s fire marshal.

The county saw a large boost in volunteer firefighters just after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, reaching more than 10,000 strong at its peak. But that enthusiasm has since dwindled, Uttaro said, and protecting communities depends on those willing to step up and defend it.

“We had a little bit of a spike where people wanted to help their communities,” he said. “They were inspired and had feelings of patriotism. That has waned off. And it's waned off significantly.”

“A lot of fire departments are struggling right now,” said Ellerbe about recruitment numbers. She says despite low numbers county-wide, Uniondale’s membership is above average.

“We're efficient right now with the numbers that we have,” said Ellerbe, “but we absolutely will always welcome more people.”

As for the rest of the Island, Edward Tase Jr., president of the Firefighters Association of the State of New York, believes it is up to local fire departments — and ultimately the state — to help fix this issue and raise volunteer numbers.

In fact, during a news conference last week at the firefighter’s museum in Uniondale, the state firefighters association revealed that nearly half of New Yorkers are interested in volunteering at their local firehouse, according to a survey the group conducted. The organization is now calling on Gov. Kathy Hochul to capitalize and properly invest in recruitment efforts — specifically in Long Island

Otherwise, the volunteer-based system that has always served the Island may eventually collapse, forcing both Nassau and Suffolk counties to move toward professional firefighters, like those in the neighboring city boroughs.

And some Long Island firefighters, like Jordan Levitt, feel that the change to a career-based system is necessary to keep both counties safe and stable. "It's time to transition towards professional fire departments," Levitt told the Herald — calling the current system "financially unsustainable."

Levitt also believes that patriotism doesn't have much to do with why younger people aren't volunteering. In fact, according to the state fire firefighters association's own study, people do want to volunteer. Levitt instead attributes factors such as people having to work multiple jobs to meet the soaring cost of living, as part of the reason for this dramatic decline among younger volunteers. 

"A transition to a county-wide career fire department and EMS service in Nassau County would not only improve service, but also utilize tax dollars more effectively," Levitt said, comparing his idea to the current department structure in Miami-Dade county in Florida — which he says covers a larger area more efficently and with fewer resources.

But that could be expensive. The 80,000 volunteers who staff fire departments throughout the state save taxpayers $4.7 billion each year, according to a state firefighters association study. There are 179 fire departments on Long Island — more than 70 of them found in Nassau — with all but two being volunteer.

“We're fighting with the government right now,” Tase said. “When you join as a volunteer firefighter, you get a $200 credit on your state income tax. I'm pushing to get it to $800, and pushing for the state to understand the value that we provide.”

But volunteering comes with other perks and benefits beyond the income tax credit: breaks on property taxes, grants and scholarships for free or reduced college tuition, and even retirement benefits and service pensions.

“We need to do better and connect more with the communities we serve,” Uttaro said, adding that by having better community connections, the county can not only grow its active volunteer roster, but also increase the fire department's diversity.

Although Nassau’s population is becoming more diverse, those demographics aren’t always translating over into the community fire departments.

“We're missing those folks,” Uttaro said, “and the opportunity to get them to join and let them know about the community they just moved into, and how they can help.”

Uttaro believes that the firefighter association’s study shows that the interest is there, and now they need to capitalize on it.

More than “66 percent of the people surveyed said they would stop down at their local firehouse to get more information on volunteering,” the fire marshal said, “so now it is our job to roll out the welcome mat.”

Ellerbe agrees, telling the herald that her message to anyone in the community who may be interested in joining is to come down to any of the four firehouses in the community and just talk to somebody.

“Sometimes it seems intimidating to just go up to a firehouse, but we welcome people with open arms, everybody no matter your background or whether you know anything about doing the job beforehand, and we're excited for new people to come and join.”

Regina Cabrera, who found her way to volunteering for her local fire department in Patchogue, says despite what some might believe about doing this kind of work, there is still plenty of opportunity to still have a life outside of the fire station.

“I have a social life. I go to church. I have a 9-to-5. I do a lot, she said. “But why not push yourself to do something? You don't know what you're capable of until you try."

UPDATED 2/12/2024 to include comments from Jordan Levitt