Defender Hose Company hosts open house

Part of the 14th annual RecruitNY statewide initiative, volunteer firefighters with Defender Hose Company No. 1 in Rockville Centre welcomed area residents to the firehouse at 39 S. Centre Ave. on Sunday, April 23, to learn more about what it takes to join the fire department.

RecruitNY is a statewide initiative organized by the Firefighters Association of New York to help increase volunteer membership in local departments. The past several years have been challenging for volunteer fire departments across New York, and it is estimated that there are 20,000 fewer volunteer firefighters than there were 20 years ago.

Today, firefighters are responding to more calls than ever before. Volunteers answer the call for medical emergencies, flooded basements, downed power lines, automobile accidents, and, of course — fires. In order to meet these challenges more firefighters are needed to provide optimal levels of protection for residents.

“This is an excellent opportunity for our residents and their families to meet their local volunteer firefighters and learn a bit more about the fire service,” Ex-Chief James Avondet said in a statement. “Volunteer firefighters are everyday heroes who dedicate their spare time to helping people in their times of need. We are always looking for new members, and it is our hope that after seeing the incredible camaraderie of the firehouse up close, more people will be interested in becoming a part of our very special family.”

FASNY has worked hard over the years to develop and implement programs and events to assist New York’s 1,700-plus volunteer fire departments with recruiting new volunteers.

Last year, more than 250 fire departments throughout the state participated in the RecruitNY open house events, including Defender Hose Company No. 1 in Rockville Centre, which raised more than $5,000 to fund their recruiting efforts including updates to the DefenderHoseCo1.org website, social media accounts, and setting up a new recruitment video that has generated multiple inquiries, resulting in several new members over the past year.

During the open house event, participants got a glimpse of how volunteers in the fire department operate. They demonstrated how to properly put on different gear, gave tours of the firehouse and the different fire apparatus, and gave demonstrations on proper firefighting procedure.

Not only was this an opportunity to highlight the many rewards and responsibilities that come with being a volunteer firefighter, it also helped to raise public awareness about the need for more volunteers.

To find out more information on ways to join the Rockville Centre Volunteer Fire Department, visit RVCFD.org or call via the non-emergency number at (516)-678-9254.