Senator Volker Secures $50,000 In State Funding For Volunteer Fire Training Purposes In Erie County

(Albany, NY) Joined by members of Erie County’s volunteer fire fighting community, Senator Dale M. Volker (R-I-C, Depew) today announced that he has secured $50,000 in state funding for the continued training of volunteer fire personnel in Erie County. Due to the financial challenges currently taking place in Erie County, funding for fire training instructors was reduced, and 33 instructors were laid off. More than half of its maintenance staff that works on the fire radio system throughout the county was eliminated as well.

"The County of Erie is facing extreme financial challenges that will not be solved overnight. Unfortunately, training funds that were earmarked by Erie County to assist volunteer firefighters were severely cut or eliminated," said Senator Dale M. Volker. "We all understand that during difficult budget years we all must operate within our fiscal means. However, for volunteer fire personnel not to continually have updated hands on skills training is short-sighted and dangerous to the lives of our volunteer firefighters and the people that they protect and serve."

The $50,000 in state funding secured by Senator Dale M. Volker will be utilized to restore 33 part time Erie County Fire Training Officers with the Erie County Department of Emergency Services. This would then allow for the opening of three (3) fire training towers in Erie County that can continue to be utilized by volunteer fire companies for live training, state fire training course operations, and live burn training for Erie County’s 94 volunteer fire companies.

"Closing these training facilities is not an option in my opinion as it would severely hamper the efforts of Erie County’s volunteer fire companies in the training and certification of their volunteers," said Jack Kuebler, President of the Erie County Fire Chiefs. "We greatly appreciate the Senator’s willingness to listen to our dilemma and come through with financial support to provide our dedicated volunteers with the training they need to perform their dangerous jobs well."

Marilynn Calhoun, member of the Association of Erie County Governments and Chairwoman of its Public Safety Committee said, "Lack of training has a direct and immediate impact on the recruitment and retention of volunteer firefighters. By Senator Volker securing these funds, new and more seasoned volunteer firefighters can continue to be proud of their commitment to their communities. The bottom line is this--a lack of volunteer firefighters puts local emergency at risk-- a risk that no community can afford."

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