There is always a need for volunteer firefighters. These are the brave men and women who are ready at a moment's notice to volunteer to help their communities while running toward a fire. New York has received a significant grant to help recruit more volunteer firefighters. According to Spectrum News, there is always a challenge for local communities to recruit and keep volunteer firefighters. Now after a substantial federal grant, recruitment may be a little bit easier.

The Firemen's Association of the State of New York (FASNY) will be getting one-point-seven million dollars. These funds come from Homeland Security's SAFER program. The majority of the federal funds will go toward a mass media outreach across the state to campaign for more volunteer firefighters.

According to John D'Alessandro of FASNY, he says that the number of volunteer firefighters has drastically declined. They have gone from about one hundred ten thousand in New York state to between eighty to eighty-five thousand. The volunteer fire departments have felt the crunch too while the complexity of their mission has been raised as well.

This is a four-year roll out to try and gain more volunteer firefighters. The grant money stretches out for four years.

If you are interested in becoming a volunteer firefighter, there are a few basic requirements. You must be eighteen years old or older, have a high school diploma or GED, pass a background check, and have a valid driver's license. To see other requirements to become a volunteer firefighter, click HERE.

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