Focus 12: Fire Volunteerism on Long Island

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News 12 Westchester needs to do this too.

Focus 12: Volunteerism on Long Island - Long Island's Fire/EMS on Alert  

(02/24/04) WOODBURY - Long Island’s volunteer firefighters and Emergency Medical Technicians save lives and protect property. But as it gets more expensive to live on Long Island, there are fewer people who can afford to sign up, and there is less free time to spare.  

The lack of affordable housing on the Island has driven many volunteers out of Nassau and Suffolk and also out of their helpful positions. There was an influx of new volunteers after 9/11, mostly 18 to 25-year-olds who still lived with their parents. Now, many department leaders are having trouble retaining younger members, especially on the north shore. Some volunteers also say it is discouraging to constantly respond to false alarms.

Fire and EMS officials say addressing just the two main problems of false calls and housing would go a long way toward easing the Island's volunteer crunch and keeping dedicated volunteers on the job.

Be sure to tune in to News 12 Long Island on Thursday evening for a live At Issue program, "Long Island's Fire and EMS On Alert." Folks can be part of the show by calling and e-mailing questions and comments. The hour-long show begins at 7 p.m. Then, log on to News12.com and join a live Web chat on the topics discussed in the program. The chat will begin at 8 p.m.

http://www.news12.com/LI/topstories/article?id=101922

 

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I would think that this is pretty much the same issue here in Westchester. Seems that many people are migrating out of Westchester to other areas upstate.