Facing a sharp decline in volunteer firefighter numbers across New York, state Assembly Minority Leader Will Barclay is calling on residents to answer the alarm — and become hometown heroes.
In a message released August 22, Barclay described the state’s volunteer firefighter system as being “at risk,” with recruitment and retention challenges putting pressure on already strained firehouses, especially in rural communities.
“Volunteer firefighters exemplify what it means to be a good community member,” Barclay wrote. “But not enough is being done to buck the trend.”…