MADRID — Dozens of volunteer firefighters from Northern New York, along with local elected officials and representatives from the Firefighters Association of the State of New York (FASNY), assembled at the Madrid Fire Station, 10 Church St., on Sunday, Jan. 8 to discuss the volunteer fire service’s legislative agenda for 2023.

The session provided a comprehensive overview and explanation of the year’s issues for local volunteer first responders. 

2023 promises to be a busy year for the fire service in Albany, said a press release from FASNY, with numerous critical issues on the docket.

A top priority for the fire service this session involves ensuring that volunteer firefighters who are sick or injured in the course of their volunteer firefighting service receive the same benefits and compensation as other workers, including paid first responders, across the state.  

Under the current standards, a volunteer firefighter injured in the line of duty receives compensation far below that of other workers injured in New York, said FASNY. Volunteer emergency responses can be dangerous and life-threatening situations, the organization said. FASNY believes this legislation would provide much-needed parity for the state’s volunteer firefighters and ensure they have the safety net they deserve to assist with bills and time missed from paying jobs while recovering from injuries received in the line of duty.  

Other priority FASNY legislation for 2023 includes:

· Ongoing Recruitment and Retention Efforts

· Public Safety and Building Code Compliance Issues – A group of legislative initiatives related to keeping the public and first responders safe. The legislative package includes updating fire and building codes, supporting code enforcement efforts, amending the penal code to add endangering the welfare of occupants, fire and emergency personnel, and ensuring the safe use of lithium-ion batteries.  

· Amend The Mental Hygiene Law in Relation to the “First Responder Peer Support Program Act”- A 2017 study found that more firefighters and police officers died by suicide than in the line of duty. The study further found that these first responders including EMS are at an increased risk for mental illnesses such as depression and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).