ELLENVILLE – Firefighters in Ellenville are looking to pique curiosity into their activities by having an open house on Saturday, April 26. Visitors will be able to learn about all of the equipment on the trucks and in the station, and even be allowed to try on firefighting gear. The open house is part of the statewide RecruitNY program, which aims to bring in more volunteers by educating the public about benefits and responsibilities of firefighters.

Recruitment has become more challenging for volunteer fire departments throughout New York, leading to the RecruitNY approach. Firefighters are available to answer questions and explain the various roles which are needed to support the department, which by remaining volunteer saves taxpayers the tremendous cost of full-time professionals.

Most of the state is covered by volunteer departments, and those volunteers are required to take training in firefighting, medical emergency response, disaster response, water rescue, and other lifesaving techniques. The training sessions are provided free of charge to volunteers, and are considered an excellent way to receive training in preparation for a paid firefighter position.

Many departments also provide retirement and life insurance benefits to volunteers, who must live in the community or district covered by the department.

Ellenville will be offering activities and demonstrations, as well as conversations and tours, for those interested in learning how the department supports its community.

"This is a great opportunity for our neighbors to observe the exciting tasks of a firefighter," said district chief John Avery Jr. "Our current members love what they do; they are everyday heroes who help our neighbors in need."

He added that many volunteers draw great personal satisfaction from making a difference in the lives of people who live and work in the community. Most volunteers, Avery further noted, have part- or full-time jobs in addition to their roles during an emergency.

The goal of RecruitNY is to turn around the recruitment decline by making the effort more visible by coordinating open houses for the same day throughout the state. Last year, over five hundred departments in 55 counties across the state participated by holding recruitment open houses. The day is organized by FASNY, the Firemen's Association of the State of New York, and is just one part of the association's recruitment efforts. Those efforts also include tuition reimbursement and the "Fire In You" advertising campaign, paid for through federal grant funding. Figures about the success rate of the open house program were not immediately available, but the association reports that it has helped the New York's 1,700 volunteer departments recruit 15,000 new volunteers in recent years.

See you all on the 26th!