CHENANGO COUNTY – Hoping to curb the declining number of volunteers, fire departments around the county will open their doors to the public this weekend for RecruitNY, an annual effort to drive up recruitment at departments that are volunteer driven.

RecruitNY is a statewide open house and recruitment drive organized by the Firemen’s Association of the State of New York for volunteer fire departments. These units rely on courageous, selfless members of the community to protect the lives and property of friends and neighbors.

Unfortunately, departments all over are struggling to find volunteers and that’s having on impact, explained Jim McLaughlin, firefighter and coordinator of RecruitNY events at the Norwich Fire Department.

“A lot of people in Norwich and surrounding towns think that Norwich is an all paid department, and that is absolutely not the case,” said McLaughlin. “We are desperate for quality volunteers. We’re trying to get the word out that there is a need and that we can find the position for almost anybody who meets the qualifications.”

While being the only paid department in Chenango County, the Norwich Fire Department currently has just over 30 active volunteers. That’s good, said McLaughlin; but it’s a long way from the 60-plus volunteers the department had just 10 years ago.

The challenge of recruiting is one faced by all 21 departments in Chenango County. Changing times have led to busier lives and thus, fewer volunteers, McLaughlin pointed out.