Volunteer firefighters put their lives on the line every day to make our communities safe. Their dedication cannot be overestimated. However, the number of volunteers has declined drastically over the past decade. As part of an initiative called Recruit NY, man volunteer fire departments from across the state will open their doors this Saturday and Sunday, April 26th and 27th, as they look for new volunteer members.

These open houses will provide information about free training programs, responsibilities and what a typical day-in-the-life of a volunteer firefighter involves. A complete schedule can be found at www.recruitny.org/opendoors.php.

If you have ever considered volunteering for your local fire department, this weekend is a great time to visit and learn more.