A longtime fire service leader says the system many communities rely on is facing a critical moment — and delaying action could make things worse.
Dave Denniston, a more than 30-year member of the volunteer fire service, shared a detailed statement outlining concerns about the future of fire and EMS delivery in New York and across the country.
Denniston said he doesn’t believe the fire service is “dead,” but warned it is “on life support” and needs immediate attention to survive.
Denniston said his perspective comes from working daily with fire and EMS agencies nationwide. He described fire service delivery as his life’s work, spanning volunteer, career, and hybrid departments.
He stressed that volunteer and career fire services depend on each other and cannot survive independently. Trying to separate the two, he said, would be unsustainable in today’s political and economic climate.
Denniston also emphasized that no single solution will work everywhere. He said communities differ widely in size, resources, risks, and culture, and fire protection models must reflect those differences.
Among the steps he called for is an immediate vulnerability and needs assessment in every community. Denniston said departments must honestly evaluate where they are now and where they are headed.
He also urged flexibility in the volunteer model, pointing out that modern family and work demands make traditional unpaid service harder. Denniston suggested options such as stipends, reimbursements, tax assistance, or other forms of modest compensation to help retain volunteers.
Denniston said funding these changes will require creativity, noting that state and federal governments cannot shoulder the burden alone. He pointed to sponsorships, reallocating funds, and shifting priorities as possible solutions.
Another key issue, he said, is the structure of fire service organizations. Denniston argued that thousands of small, independent companies may no longer be sustainable in all areas. He said collaboration, regional approaches, and revised laws could improve efficiency without closing firehouses or sidelining volunteers.
Firefighter safety also ranked high on his list. Denniston said there are realistic opportunities available now to better protect responders if agencies work together.
Denniston blamed fear, outdated thinking, pride, and personal agendas for slowing progress. He said the fire service can only overcome the crisis by trusting qualified leaders, negotiating in good faith, and accepting that no solution will be perfect.
He closed by warning that decades of studies and meetings have already reached the same conclusions. Continuing to delay action, he said, risks repeating the same mistakes while conditions worsen.
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