The Kingston Fire District is utilizing over $200,000 in federal grant money to help attract more University of Rhode Island students to its all-volunteer department. The money is being used to buy new gear for more firefighters, and also to provide tuition reimbursement for students who join the department as firefighters.
"Were we not here, they would need to have a full-time career department,” said Kingston chief, Nate Barrington of the importance of keeping a large contingent of volunteer staff.
Barrington told NBC 10 that once a volunteer has been accepted into the training program and completed his/her training to become a firefighter, he/she can earn up to $5,000 each year in tuition reimbursement.