Suffolk County faces volunteer firefighter shortage amid 16% surge in calls

Rudy Sunderman, commissioner of the Suffolk County Department of Fire, Rescue and Emergency Services, said there have been about 28,000 alarms and 52 structure fires over the last two months, figures officials say represent a 16% year-to-date increase in house fires and a 37% rise in fire dispatch calls compared with last year. County leaders are pressing recruiting and retention efforts as call volume climbs.

County officials held a news conference Friday at the Commack Fire Department to push for new volunteers and to highlight benefits for service. Officials touted tax breaks and a service pension known as the Length of Service Award Program at the Commack event. Commissioner Pat Fazio said the Commack Fire Department is fully staffed with about 150 members even as officials warn other districts face thinner ranks.

County Clerk Vincent Puleo, who also serves as a commissioner of the Nesconset Fire Department, urged additional lobbying of the State Legislature to change the law to open the possibility for some members to be paid either on a per-call or per-shift basis. That idea has received mixed feelings among some organizations that advocate on behalf of firefighters, officials said, underscoring a policy debate about pay-for-service models and how they might affect volunteer culture in Suffolk’s 109 fire departments and 28 ambulance companies.

Not all departments are short on personnel, officials emphasized, but leaders said they want recruitment and retention at the forefront to avoid future problems as winter-related demand grows. County messaging has pointed to “brutal cold this winter” as a factor driving more house fires and fire dispatches, with frozen-pipe incidents, chimney and woodstove fires, and improper disposal of fireplace ashes cited as recent causes.

Local departments are advertising entry points for new volunteers. The Jamesport Fire Department website reads: “Now Recruiting - Fire & EMS Volunteers Step Up for Jamesport. Serve with Suffolk's Bravest. No experience needed - just heart, commitment, and a desire to help.” Jamesport’s online incident table shows January 2026 with Fire 9 and EMS 16; the site also lists historical annual fire totals and a cumulative Total FIRE 3136 and Total EMS 855. The Jamesport site invites applicants to “Start Your Application,” to “See if you qualify,” and notes that after submitting, a member of the department will contact applicants with next steps. The site instructs prospective volunteers to speak with a line officer or a membership committee member at the firehouse on drill nights or to contact the district office for more information.

Sunderman urged residents to take prevention steps as calls spike: never use a torch to thaw a frozen pipe, maintain clean chimneys, properly dispose of fireplace ashes, and ensure functioning smoke and carbon monoxide alarms. With 28,000 alarms and escalating structure-fire counts reported locally, officials say those precautions and a renewed push for volunteers are immediate priorities for Suffolk County emergency services.