Senator Michael Balboni and members of the Senate unveiled a plan to boost the ranks of firefighter and ambulance volunteers by offering free college tuition to new recruits.

The Senate plan also seeks to improve safety and readiness of the state's volunteer fire and ambulance corps by reviving the state's "Emergency Services Revolving Loan Fund" with $4 million in new funding to aid the purchase of state-of-the-art fire fighting equipment, fire trucks and ambulances, protective devices and to upgrade fire stations.

The plan, part of the Senate's budget resolution approved recently, provides $2.5 million to pay up to the level of SUNY or CUNY college tuition - up to $3,400 a year that could be used at any college in New York.

To be eligible, volunteers must have served at least one year and continue to be active while attending school. It is estimated that up to 1,500 volunteers could benefit each year under the program.

"Volunteers are the lifeblood of fire companies and emergency service corps throughout Long Island and the state," said Balboni. "This plan includes a strong financial incentive to ensure that a steady supply of volunteers is available when a call for help comes in, and that they have access to the best equipment to protect their lives while they fight to save others."

Nationally, the number of volunteer firefighters has declined 10 percent over the past 20 years, while the number of calls to volunteer fire companies has risen 50 percent or more. In New York State, the number of volunteers has dropped by at least 11,000 over the past three to five years, to 109,000 according to Jim Williams, president of the Fire Association of the State of New York, a coalition of 2,000 volunteer fire and emergency service companies across the state.

"Across the country, volunteer fire and ambulance companies face growing difficulty recruiting dedicated volunteers to fill their ranks, and the problem is especially acute in commuter and rural communities," said Balboni. "This measure provides the type of proven recruitment incentive that will help companies meet the demand for qualified, dedicated recruits."

A similar free tuition program was enacted in 1996 to help fill vacancies in the state's National Guard ranks. That program has benefited by over 2,000 guardsmen a year.

In addition to the free college program, the Senate plan also includes funds to purchase life-saving thermal imaging cameras for fire departments across the state. The infrared technology in thermal imaging cameras allows firefighters to peer through smoke or behind walls in order to detect hidden heat sources such as "hot spots" or human beings who may be trapped inside a burning room. The handheld devices, which cost as much as $25,000 apiece, also protect firefighters by making victim searches in dark, burning and unstable buildings quicker and more efficient, exposing them to fewer risks, such as collapsing floors and walls.

Recognizing the safety advantages and life-saving benefits of thermal imaging systems years ago, Balboni sponsored legislation in 1998 to conduct a study of their use by the fire fighting community.

"This state-of-the-art technology can save lives not just of fire victims, but also protect firefighters whose risky job often requires them to search throughout dangerously fire-damaged buildings," concluded Balboni.