Volunteer firefighter fundraising has taken ‘major hit,’ Shurtleff says

ITHACA, N.Y. (WHCU) — One leader in Tompkins County is concerned about volunteer firefighters.

Legislator Lee Shurtleff says membership is down.

“Our numbers are estimated to be at about 80,000 volunteers statewide,” he says. “And at one point it was well in excess of 100,000.”

Fire departments in Lansing, Dryden, and Danby are hosting open houses this weekend to recruit.