Volunteer firefighters across the state are now eligible for stipends compensating them for training time.
Ed Tase, president of the Firefighters Association of the State of New York, said that recruits completing their initial training will receive a $750 stipend. To be eligible, training had to be completed on or after Aug. 31, 2023.
Advanced training, beyond the basic for recruits, will result in a $1,250 check and those who take officer training can receive a $1,000 stipend.
Tase said that the funding will benefit only the firefighter, as the training is already funded through the New York State Office of Fire Prevention and Control.
“It was approved in last year’s budget,” Tase said. “Ten million dollars will go to firefighters for their training.”
The launch of the stipend program was announced Wednesday by Gov. Kathy Hochul’s office.
Chris McClune, public information officer for South Lockport Volunteer Fire Co. and former chief, said he thinks the plan will help volunteer fire companies with recruiting.
“To compensate the time away from work and family and the work they put in, I think it’s a good step,” McClune said.
To be eligible, volunteer fire companies must have submitted fire reporting for the previous calendar year and complete the annual fire department demographics form. This regulation also authorizes the companies to pay volunteer firefighters a training stipend, subject to local funding, for the completion of certain courses, identified by the Office of Fire Prevention and Control.
McClune said the days when everyone joined their local volunteer fire company are gone. Things are more expensive, work is more demanding, and families living on a single income is a thing of the past.
“It was the thing to do (join a fire company) in the past, but things have changed,” he said.
Volunteer fire companies save taxpayers in New York state about $3.8 billion a year, according to Tase, and that needs to be protected and maintained.
“The State of New York needs to know the value of its 80,000 volunteer firefighters,” he said.