Photo by Tom Rivers: Fire trucks with the Albion Joint Fire District drive in the Strawberry Festival Parade on June 14, 2025.

Press Release, Gov. Kathy Hochul’s Office

Governor Kathy Hochul today announced New York’s Volunteer Firefighter Training Stipend program is expanding to offset costs for five additional training courses available to volunteer firefighters.

New York State created the program to strengthen the volunteer fire service and address recruitment and retention challenges by offsetting the costs of required training that individuals need to become a firefighter. This expansion will help reduce obstacles preventing volunteer firefighters from advancing their careers. Since 2023, more than 4,000 volunteer firefighters have successfully completed training through the program.

“Since taking office, I’ve been laser-focused on making New York safer and more affordable. By expanding the Volunteer Firefighter Training Stipend program, we’re doing both – cutting costs for those who serve while enhancing their lifesaving skills,” Governor Hochul said. “This program makes critical training more accessible, allowing our volunteers to grow in their careers without sacrificing their ability to provide for their families. I’m proud to invest in our volunteer firefighters who put their lives on the line to keep New Yorkers safe.”

The new stipend-eligible courses and course equivalencies are:

• Firefighter Survival: Self Rescue: This course teaches firefighters how to rescue themselves if they become trapped or compromised during a fire incident. Stipend Amount: $250
• Firefighter Assist and Search Team, and Rapid Intervention Crew: These courses are designed to train firefighters in the critical skills needed to rescue fellow firefighters who are trapped or in distress during an incident. Stipend Amount: $350
• Fire and Emergency Services Instructor 1, Fire Officer II, and Firefighter 2: These courses are advanced leadership and instructor development programs. They aim to enhance the leadership capabilities of fire department members and improve their effectiveness in incident command roles, ultimately contributing to the safety of firefighters. Stipend Amount: $500

These five courses build on the catalog of trainings that are already stipend-eligible: Basic Wildland Fire Suppression ($250) Basic Exterior Firefighting Operations ($750), Fire Officer 1 ($1,000) and Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus/Interior Firefighting Operations ($1,250). Since the inception of the stipend program, completion of the Basic Exterior Firefighting Operations, and Interior Firefighting Operations courses have increased by 20 percent and completion of the Fire Officer I course has risen 35 percent.

New York State Homeland Security and Emergency Services Acting Commissioner Terry O’Leary said, “New York’s volunteer firefighters are critical parts of the fabric of communities statewide and they put their lives on the line every time they answer a call to protect those communities. As New York continues to face challenges with volunteer recruitment, the stipend program has resulted in marked increases in class completions, which has brought additional firefighters to departments across the state. Thanks to the leadership and support of Governor Hochul, this stipend program expansion will continue to help volunteer departments recruit and retain members, keeping themselves and their communities safe.”

 Additionally, a local fire training stipend may be authorized for the completion of any state Office of Fire Prevention and Control (OFPC) training course or equivalent, as determined by OFPC, up to $500. Courses must have been completed on or after August 31, 2023, and applicants must be a member in good standing as determined by their department. Stipend applications must be submitted to OFPC-Stipend@dhses.ny.gov.

Additional information on the stipend program can be found on the DHSES website.

Press Release, Orleans County Emergency Management Office

KNOWLESVILLE – Orleans County Emergency Management has teamed up with the state Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Citizens to host a Citizens Preparedness Training Event from 9 to 10:30 a.m. on May 23 at Cornell Cooperative Extension, 12690 NY 31 in Albion.

The purpose of the training is to teach people how to prepare for disaster or emergency situations. The course includes information about the types of risks and hazards people face. It teaches how to develop individual and household plans.

The training also encourages all to think about and save needed emergency supplies. Learning how to help yourself and others in advance will help you react faster when facing a crisis. Each family that attends will be given a free preparedness kit.

To register for the training, click here.

Press Release, Gov. Kathy Hochul’s Office

During Earth Week, Governor Kathy Hochul today announced that an additional $30 million is now available for consumers to use towards the purchase or lease of an electric vehicle (EV) in New York State.

This announcement reinforces the State’s commitment to improve access to zero-emission electric vehicles and enhance affordability — while helping to reduce vehicle pollution and provide cleaner air in New York communities.

“As the federal administration continues to roll back support for clean air and electric vehicles, New York State is leaning in to prioritize benefits that reduce consumer out-of-pocket costs while reducing harmful emissions,” Governor Hochul said. “At a time when gas prices at the pump have soared in the wake of the war with Iran, electric vehicles will help make driving more affordable for New Yorkers.”

This funding is available through the Drive Clean Rebate Program, administered by the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA), which provides consumers with a point-of-sale rebate at the time of vehicle purchase or lease from a participating dealership. The amount ranges from $500 to $2,000 off of the manufacturer suggested retail price (MSRP) of a battery-powered EV or plug-in hybrid, with a higher rebate available for longer-range EVs.

NYSERDA President and CEO Doreen M. Harris said, “NYSERDA is proud to partner with dealerships statewide on the Drive Clean Rebate to lower EV costs for New York drivers and their families. Newer models cover impressive distances of over 200 miles, are quiet, comfortable and a solid option for car buyers who are looking to lower costs now — especially in this current economic landscape.”

NYSERDA compared the price of gasoline with electricity rates, and results show that New Yorkers can save from 40 percent to almost 70 percent annually by driving an electric car or SUV. For example, instead of paying well over $4.00 per gallon at the gas pump, an EV driver would pay as little as $1.33 for an equivalent amount of electricity.

New York State Automobile Dealers Association President Bob Vancavage said, “Thanks to Governor Hochul, we continue to take action to get more EVs on the road in New York State, which is especially important during the current volatility of gasoline prices. On behalf of NYSADA’s nearly 1,000 dealers across New York we are appreciative of the State’s continual efforts to clean our environment.”

Since its launch in 2017, Drive Clean Rebate program has issued over 228,000 rebates to consumers, contributing to approximately 324,000 EVs on the road statewide. More than 60 EV models are covered and new models are added to the program every year. Over the last five years, an average of more than 20 new models were added to the eligible vehicle list every year.

Consumers can use NYSERDA’s EV Calculator for Passenger Vehicles to run side-by-side comparisons of electric vehicle models, including the vehicle range, price after incentives and other specifications. The calculator also factors in electricity rates and driving habits to generate tailored results and provides recommendations for EV charging equipment and when to charge for optimal savings. NYSERDA also provides consumers with fuel market data through the Weekly Transportation Fuels Dashboard.

The Drive Clean Rebate complements New York State’s efforts to provide easy access to electric vehicle chargers. Currently, the state has more than 19,000 public chargers installed statewide — more public chargers than any other state except for California — and thousands more semi-public charging stations at workplaces and multifamily buildings across the state.