New York firefighters gear up for annual recruitment drive

RecruitNY event aims to boost volunteer firefighter ranks across the state

Mar. 30, 2026 at 6:04pm

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A bold, colorful silkscreen-style illustration featuring a firefighter's helmet repeated in a grid pattern, conceptually representing the push to recruit more volunteers for fire departments.The annual RecruitNY campaign aims to boost volunteer firefighter ranks across New York with open houses and hands-on demonstrations.Albany Today

Firefighters across New York State are preparing for their annual RecruitNY event, a weekend-long campaign to encourage more residents to become volunteer firefighters. The Firefighters Association of the State of New York (FASNY) says volunteer fire departments are struggling with retention and gaining new members, as the role has become more highly trained and demanding despite increased call volumes.

Why it matters

Volunteer firefighters play a crucial role in many New York communities, but departments are facing challenges in recruiting and retaining members. Events like RecruitNY aim to raise awareness and interest in the volunteer fire service, which provides an important public safety function.

The details

Over the RecruitNY weekend of April 18-19, hundreds of volunteer fire departments will open their doors to the public, offering tours, gear demonstrations, and information sessions to give people a firsthand look at the role. FASNY is encouraging all volunteer departments across the state to participate in the annual campaign, which began in 2011. Efforts to attract more volunteers, such as property tax exemptions, have been implemented in some areas, but the association says increased training requirements and time demands have slowed growth in the volunteer ranks.

  • RecruitNY will take place the weekend of April 18-19, 2026.
  • The RecruitNY campaign began in 2011.

The players

Firefighters Association of the State of New York (FASNY)

The organization representing volunteer firefighters across New York state, which is leading the RecruitNY recruitment effort.

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What they’re saying

“Volunteer departments are struggling with retention and gaining new members.”

— FASNY

The takeaway

The RecruitNY event highlights the ongoing challenge of maintaining a strong volunteer firefighter force in New York, as the role has become more demanding while departments face recruitment and retention issues. Successful campaigns like this one are crucial for ensuring local fire services can continue to protect their communities.