Governor Kathy Hochul today announced an expansion of New York’s Volunteer Firefighter Training Stipend program to reimburse the costs of Basic Wildland Fire Suppression training for volunteers fighting wildfires. The training—delivered by the Office of Fire Prevention and Control and the Department of Environmental Conservation—covers wildland firefighting basics, fire behavior and safety. The stipend program, created in the FY24 enacted budget, will continue to reimburse $250 per student and is designed to lower barriers to recruitment and retention in rural fire departments. In the last two years, New York experienced 268 wildfires that burned about 7,900 acres, including the Jennings Creek fire that burned more than 5,000 acres. Since Aug. 31, 2023, more than 1,400 firefighters have completed stipend-funded training. Departments are encouraged to schedule locally through their County Fire Coordinator, with DEC and OFPC support to expand training access across every region of the state. For More Information https://www.governor.ny.gov/news/supporting-first-responders-governor-hochul-announces-funding-wildland-firefighter-training
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