Long Island fire leaders propose financial incentives to recruit volunteers, saying firefighting system is struggling

Long Island and state fire chiefs and district commissioners called on New York officials on Friday to change the law so that volunteer firefighters would have the option to receive payment or other reimbursements, a move they say would help recruit members to their thinning ranks. 

But the proposal has led to some disagreement between those advocating for the change and the Firefighters Association of the State of New York, a trade association that says it would lead to inequity among the state's fire departments. 

The State Association of Fire Districts joined Long Island fire officials on Friday at the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum, where they bemoaned a shortage of volunteer firefighters and called for the ability to offer nominal compensation for calls and duty shifts. The officials said they are working with state lawmakers to develop legislation to amend the law.

"The system as it exists right now for both career and volunteer fire service is struggling," the fire district association’s first vice president, David Denniston, said. "The simple truth is this: we can no longer guarantee that a fire truck or ambulance will arrive as quickly as the public expects or deserves."

For now, state law does not allow volunteer firefighters to receive compensation in the form of payment, gift cards or reimbursement, according to FASNY.

Advocates said they were not asking for a set payment amount and had not yet suggested how it would be funded. FASNY, though, said compared with larger volunteer departments and their municipalities, smaller departments in towns and villages would be unfairly burdened when it comes to offering payments.

The number of volunteer firefighters and EMS personnel on Long Island has dropped to about 10,000 in Suffolk and to about 6,500 volunteers in Nassau, officials said. Nassau's ranks have declined by about 4,000 volunteers since 9/11. Figures for Suffolk were not available on Friday.

Statewide, the number of volunteer firefighters has dropped from about 120,000 to 80,000 in the last 20 years, according to state officials.

Volunteer firefighters receive tax-deferred retirement benefits through a Length of Service Award Program as well as workers' compensation payments, which under current law, would be jeopardized if they were to get paid for calls, Denniston said.

The fire commissioners said the compensation is needed to attract younger volunteers, who may already be struggling with the cost of living and working full time

Both FASNY and the Long Island fire districts are asking state legislators and the governor’s office to update the law to provide incentives to would-be volunteers, but their proposals differ.

FASNY, which represents 80,000 volunteer firefighters statewide, has submitted a 14-point plan that would include increasing reimbursement for training and equipment and income tax credits. They also suggest working with local and county officials to reduce or eliminate property taxes and mortgage recording taxes for volunteers.

FASNY Secretary John D’Alessandro said payments could also hurt smaller departments if volunteers were lured away to other departments that could offer more incentives.

"Our fundamental concern is you don’t know what it’s going to cost, because you don’t know how many calls you may have to respond to," D’Alessandro said. "If they’re going to go the route of monetary payments, the state needs to fund it and it needs to be uniform. It’s the only equitable way for departments in North Country and Long Island."

Gov. Kathy Hochul’s office, while not commenting on the proposals specifically, said the state had provided grants and funding to pay for firefighter training and recruitment efforts, including $10 million in the state budget and $576,000 in grants geared to recruitment and retention. That was awarded in December through the state’s Department of Homeland Security.

"The governor has made record investments in recruitment, retention and mental health initiatives for first responders, and we will continue to support volunteer firefighters however we can and are grateful for their service," Hochul’s Long Island spokesman Gordon Tepper said.

Both FASNY and Long Island fire district officials said paid fire departments were not an option, citing the estimated $5 billion cost. The only paid fire department on Long Island is in Long Beach, which includes paramedics and works with more than 100 volunteers.

Garden City discontinued its 90-year-old paid fire department in 2018, saving the village $2 million annually.

By John Asbury

john.asbury@newsday.comJohnAsbury

John Asbury is a breaking news and general assignment reporter. He has been with Newsday since 2014 and previously worked at The Press-Enterprise in Riverside, California.