Onondaga Hill Fire Department works to rebuild volunteer ranks

SYRACUSE, N.Y. (NCC News) — Volunteer firefighter numbers across New York state have declined, according to state fire officials. In March, Onondaga County officials said the number of volunteer firefighters in the county had fallen to a 40-year low. Now, the Onondaga Hill Fire Department is seeing an upward trend in membership. Fire Chief Dante Garofalo said that after a period of low membership, the department has begun seeing more active involvement from community members. "So for a long time, we were in dwindling numbers. At our lowest, we were down to about 10 active members," Garofalo said. Thanks to the department's bunk-in program, local college students can volunteer in exchange for housing at the firehouse. "Over the course of time, we've averaged three to four of those (students), which has certainly helped. But now we're starting to regain more active membership within our own community," Garofalo added.

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