Oakfield Fire Department joins others statewide for recruitment effort this Saturday

Press release:

The Oakfield Fire Department will open its doors to area residents, so they can learn about what it takes to be a volunteer firefighter in their community as part of a statewide program called RecruitNY.

From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, April 21, the Oakfield Fire Department, located at 20 Albert St., will join in an initiative with volunteer fire departments all across the state at their respective firehouses for a unified recruitment drive, as part of National Volunteer Week.

Over the past several years, it has been very tough for many fire departments throughout New York State to recruit and retain volunteers for a variety of reasons. Like most volunteer fire departments, Oakfield needs to bolster its emergency responder numbers, so it can continue to provide the optimum level of protection for its residents.

Not only will RecruitNY be an opportunity to highlight the duties and rewards that come with being a volunteer firefighter, it will also raise public awarenesss about the need for volunteers. The hope is that a collaborative effort among volunteer fire departments statewide will turn the declining number of volunteer firefighters around.

"Come on out and join us for this unique recruitment day at our firehouse," said Oakfield Chief Sean Downing. "This is a great opportunity for our neighbors to observe the exciting tasks of a firefighters. Our current members love what they do; they are everyday heroes who help neighbors in need. We hope our recruitment day will inspire other area residents to join our fire service family."

Throughout the day, the Oakfield Fire Department will conduct tours of the station and firefighter apparatus, allow visitors to try on firefighter gear, and provide activities and stations throughout the firehouse for visitors. The fire department will discuss the requirements to be a volunteer, as well as conduct demonstrations, answer questions, and let visitors know how to get involved in the fire department.

Established in 2011, RecruitNY is a joint undertaking by the Firemen's Association of the State of New York (FASNY), the New York State Association of Fire Chiefs (NYSAFC), Association of Fire Districts of New York State, Volunteer Fire Police Association of the State of New York, and County Fire Coordinators Association of the State of New York.

Last year, fire departments in more than 50 counties across the state participated in the first RecruitNY weekend.

For fire departments that would like to sign up for RecruitNY, simply log onto http://recruitny.org/opendoors.php and fill out the participation form. The program provides fire departments with access to recruitment resources, communication tools, posters, banners, etc. via http://recruitny.org/resources.php to help a firehouse hold a recruitment open house.

For area residents looking for more information, or to find out if your fire department is participating in RecruitNY, visit www.recruitny.org or contact your local fire department via a non-emergency phone number or its website.