Chris Graf photo
By Christine Graf
If your house is on fire, there’s a good chance that the firefighters who respond to the call are volunteers. Approximately 65 percent of the country’s more than one million firefighters volunteer their time, and only about 10,000 of the 29,000 fire departments in the United States are staffed by professional firefighters.
In New York where nearly half of the state’s population is served by volunteer firefighters, the number of volunteers has dropped 32 percent since the 1990s. During that same time period, calls for service have increased 29 percent. These calls include fires, vehicle accidents, medical emergencies, hazardous material spills, water rescues, and weather-related rescue operations.
With the exception of the Saratoga Springs Fire Department, all departments in Saratoga County are operated by volunteers.
According to Round Lake Fire Department Captain and Public Information Officer Joe Plewinski, local departments are struggling to attract volunteers. A principal engineer at General Electric Power Systems, Plewinski joined the department in 1996. For him, it was the fulfillment of a childhood dream.
“I always wanted to be a firefighter. One of my earliest memories is going to Engine 37 in the Chestnut Hill section of Philadelphia when my mom was taking me out for a walk,” he said.
“Being a volunteer is a wonderful opportunity. It’s a great American tradition,” he added. “But we are finding it increasingly difficult to attract members on an industry-wide level. When you look at the number of volunteers and how they have dwindled over the years, it’s staggering.”
This decline can be attributed in part to the economy, the rising cost of living making it more difficult for families to survive on one income.
“People are busy,” said Plewinski. “Families need two incomes just to make it, and parents are busy with kids and activities. Between the need to work and have family time, there’s very little time left over.”
As a result, individuals in the age 50 and above demographic now make up more than a third of volunteers at departments throughout the country.
Regardless of age, all prospective Round Lake Fire Department volunteers must pass a comprehensive physical exam and submit to a background check. Anyone who has been convicted of arson or any type of sexual offense is ineligible for service.
The physical—one paid for by the department– is much more comprehensive than a general physical, with particular attention paid to lung and cardiac function. In some instances, a person may receive clearance to be an exterior firefighter only. Exterior firefighters raise ladders, man hose streams on the outside of the building, fight brush fires, and perform a variety of other vital tasks. They also respond to calls related to car accidents, hazardous materials spills, and water rescues.
“We have had people come to us who are over 50, and they quite often—but not exclusively—find themselves in an exterior firefighting role,” said Plewinski.
All of the department’s new volunteers, even those with prior firefighting experience, must complete a comprehensive recruit training program, one that takes on average about three months to complete. Upon completion, all volunteers are encouraged to enroll in the New York State Firefighter-1 course. Offered by the New York State Department of Fire Prevention and Control, the approximately 200-hour course prepares new firefighters to respond to emergencies of all kinds.
As part of Governor Kathy Hochul’s effort to strengthen and stabilize the state’s volunteer fire service, those who complete the program are now eligible to receive a stipend of up to $2,000. In New York, all volunteers also receive a $200 annual tax credit.
In addition to the Firefighter-1 course, the state offers numerous other training opportunities for volunteers. All trainings are offered at no cost to the volunteer.
The Round Lake Fire Department requires that all active members attend at least 10 percent of all calls and attend a minimum of 15 drills. Interior firefighters must attend at least 20 drills and undergo regular live fire training.
Drills take place every Tuesday morning and Thursday evening, with live fire trainings taking place once per quarter. Members must also attend four monthly meetings as well as an annual meeting.
“The training is constant,” said Plewinski. “People need to understand that the commitment is huge.”
Membership in the department is open to any male or female age 16 and up, but only those over 18 can perform firefighting duties. There is no distinction between the duties performed by male and female firefighters.
“Either you can do the job or you can’t,” said Plewinski. “For a volunteer agency, we work extremely hard to make sure we can deliver the best level of service that the circumstances will permit.”
According to Plewinski, Round Lake Fire Department has 70 active members along with 20 support members who assist with building maintenance, clerical work, and other tasks.
“We see stories of departments shutting down because they just don’t have the membership, and we’re very lucky in Round Lake because we have an almost-full roster. Our membership fluctuates, and we cap it at 75 because of costs. For example, a set of turn-out gear runs about $6,000, and you have to have custom-fit gear for every firefighter.”
Round Lake Fire Department responds to approximately 600 calls a year, each one of them taking firefighters away from their families. It is for that reason that Plewinski refers to spouses as the “unsung heroes” of the department.
“We do a horrible job of recognizing them,” he said.
With more than 25 years under his belt, Plewinski plans to continue fighting fires for as long as he is physically able. At the same time, he is hopeful that others will feel called to serve.
“I continue to do it because I can. It needs to be done, and if not me then who?” he asks. “But my days of running into burning buildings will soon end, and I need someone behind me to fill my shoes.”