More volunteer firefighters needed in Suffolk, County Executive Ed Romaine says

John D'Alessandro never planned on becoming a firefighter. But when he promised his youngest son — who dreamed of fighting fires from 12 years old — that he would join the ranks if his son earned his certification at 16, he had no choice, he said.

D’Alessandro, secretary of the Firefighters Association of the State of New York, recalled on Thursday how he became a firefighter at age 52. He shared his story in advance of the 16th annual Recruit NY campaign.

The statewide initiative this weekend to boost ranks of volunteer departments provides opportunities for anyone interested in firefighting to visit an open house in their neighborhood. The recruitment effort comes as volunteer firefighter groups across the county have seen a drop in numbers, a trend officials say extends two decades.

Leaders with the statewide agency, as well as Suffolk County officials and firefighters, gathered at the Patchogue Fire Department to formally kick off the campaign, which they said is an important way to showcase the benefits of volunteering.

Their message was anyone can be a firefighter, regardless of age or experience.

Eugene Perry, FASNY president and a 45-year member of the Patchogue Fire Department, said recruitment and retention is "an ongoing challenge."

"We’re making progress in some individual departments and areas in the state, while other places the numbers continue to decline," he said.

Rudy Sunderman, commissioner of the Suffolk County Fire, Rescue and Emergency Services, said departments respond to about 300,000 calls each year in the county. The volunteer ranks, including firefighters and EMS, stand at about 12,600 — a decline of about 600 in the past year, he said.

Statewide, the number of volunteer firefighters has dropped from about 120,000 in the early 2000s to around 75,000 today, according to FASNY data.

Asked if there was a target number of volunteers to reach, D'Alessandro said: "We’ll take as many as we can get."

"What better way to help your community than keeping people safe, fighting fires and responding to emergencies," said Suffolk County Executive Edward P. Romaine.

Sunderman said the agency is "in the middle" of completing a census that will provide more clarity on the ages of current members. He said the overall figures include volunteers who are older with decades of experience but who may no longer be running into a burning home. Firefighters are required to complete an annual physical. 

D’Alessandro said the biggest reason for declining numbers is people don’t believe they have enough time.

"Sometimes you have to work more than one job, you have family responsibilities, the kids are going in five different directions every night," he said.

In 2023, the U.S. Fire Administration, a division of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, published a report that found training demands, work-life volunteer balance and department leadership were some of the challenges for recruitment and retention. The report described the many challenges department leaders face in between active calls from "training, recruiting, planning, budgeting, preventing and solving personnel issues, and preparing."

Legis. Rebecca Sanin (D-Huntington Station) said in an interview she’s heard from fire officials how affordability for younger people is a "significant challenge" toward retention. She introduced legislation in late 2024 to boost the ranks of volunteer fire and EMS departments through a new housing incentive. That bill has been the subject of several public hearings and is currently in committee.

"They really are incredible heroes and we need to be thinking about ways to make it easier for them to volunteer," Sanin said.