VIDEO: There is a renewed effort on Long Island to find more volunteer firefighters amid a shortage.
Thursday, firefighters gathered at the Plainview Fire Department to kick off a recruiting effort.
According to the Firefighters Association of the State of New York, the past several years have been especially challenging with less members and more calls. They say a decade ago, there were 20,000 more volunteers.
Now, they're trying to change that trend.
"There's a job for everybody in the volunteer fire service. I'm 65 years old. I still am an active interior firefighter," said Eugene Perry, first vice president of the Firefighters Association of the State of New York.
"A sense of community, a sense of brotherhood and the ability to serve your community with pride," EMT Colby Kusinitz said.