FASNY holds 16th annual recruitment event

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- The Firefighters Association of the State of New York (FASNY) is hosting its 16th annual recruitment campaign, RecruitNY, this weekend.

FASNY said recruitment events are at an all-time high as it has been challenging for departments across the state to increase membership. Over the past 20 years, state firefighter ranks have sunk by 33 percent.

During the weekend of recruitment, fire departments across the state will open their doors to the public, hold information sessions, host building tours, and give live demonstrations of firefighting strategies. Visitors can try on gear and speak with department members about the job.

RecruitNY has been largely successful in the past by adding more than 20,000 volunteer firefighters to the job. But FASNY said they are still currently in need of nearly 40,000 firefighters.

FASNY found there are about 80,000 active volunteer firefighters. They found that in 2024 around 49 percent of New Yorkers showed interest in being a firefighter, 66 percent said they would visit a fire station to learn more about the job, and 98 percent of New Yorkers said firefighters are a crucial part of keeping communities healthy and safe.