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Ed Tremblay is the deputy director and fire coordinator with the Saratoga County Office of Emergency Management, which is observing National Fire Prevention Week from Oct. 9 through 15.
1. What is the state of the volunteer fire service in Saratoga County?
“On one hand, we’ve got some of the best volunteer firefighters that we’ve ever had in Saratoga County. Men and women are learning all sorts of new skills that we’ve never had to deal with before. More than 10 of our departments just took a training on fighting fires in electric vehicles, which is still a developing science. We’re lucky to have active chiefs and volunteers all over the county who care and take time to learn.”
2. What about on the other hand?
“On the other hand: we need more volunteers, and in some cases a lot more. It’s no secret that our volunteer firefighting force needs more youth. There are some jobs that are just harder to do at a certain age. Our older members can drive trucks, run pumps and hydrants, and direct traffic – but when you think about team rescues on water and ice, extricating victims at crash scenes, or in the rare instance handling interior firefighting or climbing a ladder truck, we need young people in their 20’s and 30’s and 40’s to do those jobs.”
3. So, what is Saratoga County doing about it?
“We’re doing things like this, reaching out where we haven’t before. We launched our own recruitment campaign called “Roll With Us.” We’re on social media looking for that younger crowd to interact – you can follow @rollwithus_saratoga on Instagram and TikTok. And we’re offering incentives like many departments across New York: college scholarships, a retirement program, even recognition of our firefighters and the ways that they balance volunteering with their everyday lives.”
4. Can anyone learn more about volunteering?
“Absolutely, and we’ve made it easy: if you visit saratogacountyny.gov/rollwithus, you can find your volunteer fire district on the map and sign up for more information. Some of the districts have very specific names and reach beyond the normal town borders, so it’s important for every resident to check that map. If you do sign up, we’ll reach out to you with easy ways to visit, learn more, and join the department to start your training.”
5. And finally, it’s National Fire Prevention Week – what are some basic tips people should know?
“Ensure you have working smoke detectors in your home. Keep at least one fire extinguisher in a safe location, near the kitchen – most home fires start there. Heat your home safely this winter, and clean your chimney if you have a stove or fireplace. Check electrical cords and wiring for breaks, shorts or water exposure. Supervise candles and open flames at all times. And have a home escape plan rehearsed and ready in case of an incident. When you stay safe, our volunteers stay safe! But they’ll be ready to help you if something happens.”
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