By Robert Harding
The Citizen
CAYUGA COUNTY, N.Y. — A volunteer fire department in Cayuga County is one of 10 statewide to receive $1 million through a grant program to support volunteer firefighters.
The Sennett Fire Department will receive the maximum amount, $1 million, from the Volunteer Fire Infrastructure and Response Equipment Grant Program. The program, which is administered by the state Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services, provides funding for equipment purchases, facility improvements and consolidating services.
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The other recipients of $1 million grants include the Farmington Volunteer Fire Association in Ontario County, Richfield Springs and West Edmeston fire departments in Otsego County, and the Volney Volunteer Fire Corporation in Oswego County.
When the state announced the previous round of V-FIRE grants, seven volunteer fire departments received $1 million grants in 2024. One of the recipients was the New Hope Fire Department, which received the maximum award to build a new fire station.
Gov. Kathy Hochul on Wednesday announced 65 volunteer fire departments will receive $25 million through the V-FIRE program.
“Our volunteer firefighters answer the call day and night, keeping New York communities across the state safe,” Hochul said in a statement. “By investing an additional $25 million in V-FIRE grant funding for volunteer firefighters, we are ensuring our local heroes are equipped with modern facilities, advanced gear and tools they need to respond quickly and safely when they get the call.”
The funding, according to Hochul’s office, was distributed equitably across the state’s economic development regions excluding New York City.
In Central New York, which includes Cayuga, Cortland, Madison, Onondaga and Oswego counties, eight departments will receive more than $3.8 million. Four, including Sennett, are in Cayuga County. The King Ferry Fire District will get $824,000, the Fair Haven Volunteer Fire Department will receive $229,000 and $52,790 has been awarded to the Weedsport Fire Department.
In the neighboring Finger Lakes region, Waterloo in Seneca County was awarded $391,331 and the Red Creek Fire Department in Wayne County will get $264,741.
Hochul’s office noted that about 9 million New Yorkers, nearly half of the state’s population, are served by volunteer fire departments. But volunteer fire companies are facing challenges, including a shortage of volunteers at a time when calls for service has increased 29%.
To bolster volunteer fire departments, Hochul proposed a stipend program to pay volunteer firefighters who completed training. The program, which was created in 2023, was expanded this year.
Hochul also signed a bill allowing local governments to offer up to 10% property tax exemptions for volunteer first responders.
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