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N.Y. Chief Urges High School Seniors to Volunteer

Nov. 27, 2011

-- Nov. 26--With a growing demand for more volunteer firefighters to fill in the gap in St. Lawrence County, one fire chief is asking high school seniors to step up. "There is isn't a department in the county with a full roster," said Edwards Fire Chief Dale F. Barker, regional representative for the Firemen's Association of the State of New York.

Source Watertown Daily Times, N.Y.

Nov. 26--With a growing demand for more volunteer firefighters to fill in the gap in St. Lawrence County, one fire chief is asking high school seniors to step up.

"There is isn't a department in the county with a full roster," said Edwards Fire Chief Dale F. Barker, regional representative for the Firemen's Association of the State of New York.

Since Aug. 17, the association has offered a college tuition reimbursement program that allows volunteer firefighters to get up to 100 percent of their tuition paid if they maintain service requirements and grades.

The Higher Education Learning Plan can be used for fall and spring semesters and will apply to anyone who has not yet achieved an associate degree.

The program also has no restriction on course selection.

Besides the college-age group, others can take advantage of the program.

"A 30-year member who has never been to college can now go," Mr. Barker said.

The funds must be used at the nearest community college or one within a 50-mile radius of the student's residence.

"We are very excited about this important tuition incentive, and as a retired educator myself, I give FASNY HELP high grades," FASNY President David Jacobowitz said in a news release.

"We secured a federal grant to fund a multi-pronged statewide effort, which starts with FASNY HELP to be followed by an aggressive statewide recruitment and retention program," he said.

The money for the scholarship comes from a $4.3 million grant awarded to FASNY from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

Mr. Barker said a goal of the program for the state is to attract and maintain 16,000 volunteer firefighters over the next four years.

"People need to take to advantage of this program," he said.

"No one in St. Lawrence County has done it yet," he said.

Mr. Barker said applicants first must become a member of a local fire department to become eligible.

The deadline to apply for the spring 2012 semester is Feb. 1.

For more information on the scholarship,visit www.fasny.com.