By Robert Harding
The Citizen
AURORA, N.Y. — The day Wells College announced its closure in 2024 was also when the Aurora Volunteer Fire Department learned it would lose one-quarter of its members.
For years, many Wells students volunteered to be emergency medical technicians or firefighters, according to Sarah Homick, the department’s assistant chief and public relations officer. Some became interior firefighters — the first responders who enter burning buildings.
The department worked with the college to develop a program that awarded the student volunteers internship credits.
“They brought a different perspective, a younger perspective,” Homick told The Citizen. “A lot of them had never experienced anything to do with a fire department, so it was new for them. It was a really great working relationship that we had with them.”
But that changed when Wells College announced in April 2024 that it would close at the end of the semester. At the school’s final commencement ceremony, some of the student speakers mentioned their involvement with the Aurora Volunteer Fire Department. They were the last of the volunteers the department would get from the now-shuttered institution.
Homick did not have specific numbers available, but said the department lost about one-quarter of its members when Wells closed. According to the department’s website, there are nearly 40 current members.
“Losing that connection has really taken a toll on our fire department,” Homick said. “We miss the students that we had with us. We miss that relationship. We also miss the help.”
Aurora has an all-volunteer ambulance service that does not bill for its services. It is also one of two volunteer departments in Cayuga County with an advanced life support ambulance. Aside from the challenges facing emergency medical services locally, the department is also in need of EMTs.
When Wells students were around, they supported the department’s core group of EMTs. They were on the on-call schedule during the semesters, which Homick said would take pressure off the EMTs and ensure they weren’t on call every week.
“Our EMT list took a very, very big hit when the college closed and we lost those members,” Homick added.
Despite the college’s closure in June 2024, the department continues to train at the campus. The most recent training was held April 21 at the college’s Main Building.
Before the college closed, the fire department regularly trained there during school breaks and conducted drills throughout the year.
After the closure announcement, the department’s leadership met with Wells security and walked through buildings. Because the buildings are closed and have been secured, security wanted to ensure they knew “what we’d be walking into if there was an actual incident on scene,” Homick said.
That’s not only important for Aurora, she explained, but for any mutual aid fire companies that would respond to a fire at the college.
With the village facing an uncertain future due to the college’s closure, the department is also dealing with that impact and other factors affecting volunteer fire services. Statewide, there is a shortage of volunteers.
In Aurora, there are additional challenges. Homick said the department is raising money to buy a new ambulance. It is also trying to encourage more people to join their ranks.
The fire department isn’t just looking for firefighters, according to Homick. They need people with different skill sets, such as driving an ambulance, holding fundraisers, or writing grants.
“We need help if we’re going to continue and maintain this service,” Homick said.
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