Baldwinsville volunteer firefighter Kim Morini has been responding to medical emergencies, car crashes, and fires for a year and a half…much to her surprise.
"I didn't have the intention really of signing up for it. But I saw the people were just like me with jobs and families, and they were here to help their community, and I wanted to be a part of it. So, I signed up, and I just let it take me where its going. I love it."
Morini happened to stop by the Baldwinsville Fire Department in 2013 during an event when many volunteer departments across Onondaga County and the state opened their doors with hopes of attracting new members. Many of those departments will be open once again this weekend as part of Recruit NY's 5th annual call for volunteers. Tom Perkins has been a member of Baldwinsville for more than 50 years, 17 as chief.
"We're always recruiting, even though we have a fairly strong department, daytime [response] is a problem. It's a problem for all fire departments throughout the state. Maybe you work shift work, maybe you think you don't have anything to contribute...you do. Because daytime is traditionally our low time for responsive members."
Baldwinsville has picked up 37 new members through theRecruit NY campaign, and retained 20. Since the campaign began in 2011, volunteer departments statewide have added 12,600 members. George Davenport has been with the Manlius Fire Department longer than he cares to admit. He says prospective volunteers will meet people from many walks of life.
"The person who works on the highway truck that plows your road. You're going to meet the doctor who may have met you in the emergency room. You're going to meet a computer programmer. You're going to meet a guy like me who's retired. You're going to meet a retired dean from a university."
And, Davenport says, volunteers will enjoy the sisterhood and brotherhood with their fellow firefighters, and have a sense of satisfaction from serving their communities. But fire departments are also competing with family life and the time commitment, which has increased over the years due to training requirements.
More information on which departments are participating April 25th or 26th is at recruitny.org.
