The Syosset Volunteer Fire Department (SFD) is opening its doors to area residents, so they can learn about what it takes to be a volunteer firefighter or Emergency Medical Service (EMS) provider in our community. The SFD will host a recruitment open house event from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, April 25 at SFD Headquarters, located at 50 Cold Spring Rd., near the Long Island Rail Road parking lot and across from CVS.
SFD’s recruitment open house is part of a statewide volunteer firefighter recruitment program called Recruit NY, which is in its fifth year.
The Syosset Volunteer Fire Department is always looking to bolster its emergency responder numbers, so it can continue to provide the optimum level of protection for area residents. The department has been providing fire protection, fire prevention and a variety of other public safety services, including emergency medical services, to the citizens of the greater Syosset-Woodbury community since 1915. Over the years, both the town and the fire department have grown considerably, and today, the SFD is among the busiest fire departments on Long Island, covering the largest fire protection district in Nassau County. The SFD answers more than 2,000 emergency alarms each year. The members protect more than 35,000 residents, an estimated 250,000 nonresidents, and a diverse mix of residential, commercial and industrial structures, including 19 school facilities, 16 houses of worship, four nursing homes and a hospital.
Throughout the open house event, Syosset Volunteer Firefighters and EMS members will conduct tours of the station and firefighter apparatus, allow visitors to try on turnout gear, and provide other fire and EMS-related activities that interested visitors can watch or participate in. SFD members will be on hand to discuss the requirements to be a volunteer, as well as answer questions, and let visitors know how to get involved in the fire department.
Volunteer firefighters and EMS personnel do important and challenging work for the pure satisfaction of helping others. They are essential for a number of reasons, including the fact that volunteers live in the communities in which they serve, which greatly enhances response times. Recent severe weather incidents from Superstorm Sandy and Hurricane Irene to a series of severe winters have reminded our community of the importance of having a maximum number of volunteers available to respond in an emergency.
For more information about the Syosset Volunteer Fire Department, visit www.syossetfd.org or come on down to the firehouse on April 25.
