New York Village Hires 20 Firefighters to Help Volunteers

When volunteers at a fire department start asking for help, you know it's time for bold action.

The village of Minoa, New York, just hired 20 part-time firefighters to work alongside its shrinking volunteer force. The department that once had 80 volunteers now has just 30, with only 18 responding regularly to calls.

Chief Donald Grevelding has watched this decline unfold over his 38 years with the department. Most families today have both parents working multiple jobs, leaving little time for volunteer shifts.

The problem hit hardest during daytime hours when volunteers were at work. The department was missing several calls each week, forcing neighboring towns to cover for them.

"Even the volunteers were asking for help," said Mayor William Brazill. "They don't want to miss calls."

The village board voted unanimously in late July to bring on the new firefighters. They'll work four-hour daytime shifts at $27 per hour, ensuring the department can always answer its 15 weekly calls.

The new hires bring serious experience. All have at least five years of firefighting under their belts, and many already work full-time at other departments.

The Ripple Effect

Minoa isn't alone in facing this challenge. Volunteer firefighter numbers across New York have dropped by a third over the past two decades, from 120,000 to about 80,000.

But solutions are spreading. Nearby East Syracuse recently hired 10 part-time firefighters. Communities in DeWitt, Liverpool, North Syracuse, Clay, and Camillus have all added paid staff in recent years.

Minoa's approach stands out for its scale and speed. The $560,000 annual cost adds significantly to the village's budget, but Mayor Brazill says they can handle it without raising taxes.

The department serves not just the village's 3,600 residents but also covers 33 square miles of the surrounding town of Manlius, protecting about 11,000 people total. The town contributes $1.8 million annually for that coverage.

Chief Grevelding wants everyone to know the volunteers aren't being replaced. "We are supplementing them," he said.

The new firefighters are excited too. Mayor Brazill said they told him they wanted to be "on the ground floor and be part of something new."

Communities across America are proving that when traditional models stop working, creative solutions can keep everyone safe.