In the small village of Tivoli, tucked along the Hudson River in Dutchess County, the volunteer firefighters who answer calls at all hours are about to get a major upgrade — a full $1 million to overhaul their fire station. They're one of ten departments across New York receiving the top award in a new round of state funding that puts $25 million into the hands of 65 volunteer fire departments and districts.
Why this matters: nearly half of all New Yorkers — roughly nine million people — rely on volunteer firefighters for fire protection and emergency response. In recent years, more than 75% of these departments have reported a drop in the number of people willing to sign up and serve. That shortage is only compounded by the fact that volunteers now do far more than fight fires, responding to vehicle accidents, medical emergencies, hazardous material spills, and weather-related rescues. Meanwhile, the cost of equipment and construction keeps climbing.
The new money, announced by Gov. Kathy Hochul, is meant to ease those financial pressures so local taxpayers don't shoulder the full cost of staying safe. The Volunteer Fire Infrastructure & Response Equipment (V-FIRE) Grant Program, run by the State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services, funds two kinds of help: building or renovating fire stations, classrooms, and training centers, and buying modern gear like personal protective equipment (PPE), washers and dryers for that gear, decontamination supplies, and exhaust removal systems. The grants also encourage departments to team up regionally, so neighboring towns can support each other when disaster strikes.
Alongside Tivoli, the other $1 million winners are the Sennett Fire District in Cayuga County, Volney Volunteer Fire Corporation in Oswego County, Farmington Volunteer Fire Association in Ontario County, and departments in Richfield Springs, West Edmeston, Adams Center, Port Henry, Coventry, and Angola. The Southern Tier alone landed eight awards totaling over $3 million, with Coventry, Chenango County, taking a full $1 million. Vestal Fire District in Broome County received $418,895.
State Sen. Lea Webb cheered the funding for Vestal, calling it "vital financial support to our local volunteer fire departments, who selflessly donate their time to protect our communities." Assemblymember Donna Lupardo agreed, noting that "making sure these dedicated first responders have the updated equipment and safe facilities they need to do their jobs is a high priority."
This round builds on $25 million already handed to 88 departments in October 2024. "Our volunteer firefighters answer the call day and night," Hochul said, "and we are ensuring our local heroes are equipped with modern facilities, advanced gear and tools they need to respond quickly and safely." For the thousands of towns that depend on volunteers, that's a welcome shot of support — and a reminder that when the alarm sounds, help is on the way.