City of Rensselaer addresses lack of firefighter training
RENSSELAER, N.Y. (NEWS10) - Volunteer firefighters in Rensselaer addressed their issues at the city’s common council meeting after 18 were benched for not having adequate training.
Some of the volunteer firefighters said they feel there’s a lack of respect and communication for volunteers by the paid firefighters.
“I’ve been pushed off to the side while trying to hold a nozzle and have a career guy, who could come in on overtime, and take it away from you.”
Common council members addressed the issue before speakers hit the podium Wednesday night. They said they want to work with the volunteers, and they also announced that training sessions will be held soon to get volunteers back in the field.
The volunteers’ frustrations bubbled to the top as the city’s fire chief steps down.
“I can’t blame these issues, which have been ongoing for quite some time, all on him. I think it’s unfair.”
Michael Stammel and Gene Hilstro said the tension is not new.
“It hasn’t been for a couple years,” Hilstro said. “It’s been for about 15 or 20 years.”
They said there’s a lack of communication and somewhere along the lines it feels as if there’s been a concerted effort to be pushed out of the station.
“Little by little all this stuff builds up, and lately, it just got out of hand,” Hilstro said.
“That’s disrespectful,” Stammel said.
“I’ll say it 1,000 times: You have to move forward from these things, and you know, it’s a stepping stool.”
Both the common council and the fire department said they are hoping to move on from the matter.
