BROCKPORT, N.Y. — While volunteer fire departments nationwide struggle with declining staffing, the Brockport Volunteer Fire District says it has reversed its own staffing shortage.
The department had 17 interior firefighters in 2023. Three years later, that number has grown to 44, WHEC reported.
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A state-funded live-in program is one factor behind the increase. College students interested in firefighting careers can live there in exchange for 20 hours of duty each week.
The program began during the 2025-2026 school year. One student currently lives in the bunkhouse, and the district has received two more applications in the past month.
Brockport averaged four firefighters responding to each call in 2023. In September, that average has grown to more than nine.
Live-in firefighter Tyler Lamendola, who is getting his master’s degree at SUNY Brockport, told WHEC that the program gives him experience with different fire departments as he works toward a career in the fire service, while free housing helps him manage college expenses.
The district also launched a social media recruitment campaign in 2024 to attract younger volunteers. Fire Chief Adam Leggett said Brockport firefighters average 36, compared with 50 statewide.
The department also offers a restricted-access membership program for 16- and 17-year-olds to gain fire service experience.
The department is now sharing its recruitment strategies with other fire districts looking to increase volunteer staffing.
