Cutchogue Fire Department Hosts'Recruit NY' Event To Bolster Ranks

CUTCHOGUE, NY — Amidst state and nationwide concerns regarding decreased volunteer membership and a dramatic uptick in call volume, the Cutchogue Fire Department is hosting a recruitment in the hopes of bolstering its ranks.

Local volunteers, the heartbeat of a community dependent on their services in the event of sometimes catastrophic emergencies, are stretched thin, officials across the board agree.

To that end, as part of the annual RecruitNY statewide initiative, the Cutchogue Fire Department will open its doors on April 23 so residents can learn how they can serve their volunteer fire department. The event will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the firehouse, located at 260 New Suffolk Road in Cutchogue.

Throughout the day, volunteer firefighters and EMS providers will conduct tours of the station and apparatus, allow visitors of all ages to try on gear, demonstrate firefighting and EMS activities, provide information, and address questions on becoming a member. The day will include activities for the whole family.

Volunteer fire departments across New York State are struggling with decreased membership and increased call volume. "Like most volunteer fire departments, the Cutchogue Fire Department needs to bolster its ranks so it can continue to provide the optimum level of protection for its residents," the Cutchogue Fire Department said.

The growing concern is not unique to the North Fork: According to the Cortland Voice, the shortage of volunteers, coupled with a spike in call volume, has sparked issues in many communities.

According to the National Volunteer Fire Council, of the 29,705 fire departments nationwide, 19,112 are all volunteer, and 5,206 are mostly volunteer.

The NVFC indicated that the number of volunteer firefighters reached a low nationwide of 682,600 in 2017, while call volume has tripled in the past 30 years. In addition, the NVFC said, the volunteer population is an aging one.

“We welcome the community to join us during RecruitNY Weekend,” said Cutchogue Fire Chief Amos Meringer. “This is an excellent opportunity for people to meet their local volunteer firefighters and learn a bit more about the fire service. We are always looking for new members and it is our hope that after meeting us more people will be interested in becoming a part of our family.”

The Cutchogue Fire Department began providing fire protection service to the communities of Cutchogue and New Suffolk in 1928, and its Rescue Squad was formed in 1938, becoming the first group on the North Fork to provide residents with lifesaving first aid.

The demands on the CFD are escalating in the face of a burgeoning local population that's continued to grow as many headed to the East End during the pandemic: In 2021, the department ran 475 calls for service, the Cutchogue Fire Department said.

Established in 2011, RecruitNY is an undertaking of the Firefighters Association of the State of New York. The effort made possible by the support of Lincoln Financial Group.

For additional information on the event, click here or call the department's non-emergency phone number at 631-734-6907.