Suffolk looks to boost ranks of firefighters amid surge in calls

Brutal cold this winter has contributed to an increase in house fires and fire dispatch calls in Suffolk County, prompting officials to once again push for new volunteers to join local departments.

Dwindling ranks of volunteer firefighters has been an ongoing problem both locally and statewide for years, a trend attributed to numerous factors including cost of living. County and fire officials touted the benefits available to volunteers — such as tax breaks and a service pension known as the Length of Service Award Program — at a news conference Friday at the Commack Fire Department.

County Clerk Vincent Puleo, a commissioner of the Nesconset Fire Department, urged additional lobbying of the state legislature to change the law to open the possibility for some members to be paid either on a per-call or per-shift basis. That idea has received mixed feelings among some organizations that advocate on behalf of firefighters, Newsday recently reported.

Rudy Sunderman, commissioner of the Suffolk County Department of Fire, Rescue and Emergency Services, said there have been about 28,000 alarms and 52 structure fires over the last two months. The figures represent a 16% year-to-date increase in house fires and a 37% increase in fire dispatch calls compared to last year, officials said. 

Sunderman said people can help prevent fires, particularly during winter months, by never using a torch to thaw a frozen pipe, maintaining clean chimneys and properly disposing of fireplace ashes — all causes attributed to recent fires. Functioning smoke and carbon monoxide alarms are also critical, he said.

While officials stressed that not all of the county’s 109 fire departments and 28 ambulance companies are facing shortages, they hope to keep recruitment and retention at the forefront to avoid future problems.

The Commack Fire Department is fully staffed with about 150 members, said Commissioner Pat Fazio. 

"We actually have to place people on hold to come in here," he said. "I want that to be a problem everywhere throughout the county."

Sunderman said the county has a recruitment and retention committee to assist departments with "best practices." He said there could be any number of factors why some departments are better staffed than others, from an organization’s leadership to the cost of living in certain communities.

Legis. Sal Formica (R-Commack), who has been a firefighter for 33 years in Commack, said some departments automatically call for mutual aid to seek assistance from a neighboring department to maintain response times. But that can add stress to the system, he said.

Suffolk County Executive Edward P. Romaine appealed to the community benefits of volunteering.

"You get to meet your neighbors, you establish friendships, camaraderie," he said.

Romaine signed a bill last July to create a new housing incentive, mandating any new affordable developments that receive county workforce housing money to set aside at least five units or 10% of the property’s total number of apartments, whichever is less, for volunteer firefighters and EMS workers.

The Firefighters Association of the State of New York’s unveiled a 14-point plan last month to aid in recruitment and retention with specific proposals like increasing the $200 volunteer firefighter base tax credit to $800, Newsday previously reported.

Recruit NY, a statewide initiative to boost ranks of firefighters through open houses, runs April 18-19.

By Joe Werkmeister

joe.werkmeister@newsday.com

Joe Werkmeister joined Newsday in 2022 and covers Suffolk County government and politics. He is a graduate of St. Bonaventure University and previously worked as the editor of two North Fork community newspapers.

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