CORNWALL — Maintaining an all-volunteer fire department has become increasingly challenging for towns across the state. To promote their local department, the Cornwall Woman’s Society sponsored a presentation on Cornwall’s Volunteer Fire Department (CVFD) on April 13.
Volunteer fireman Skip Kosciusko, who has been with CVFD since 1996, led the presentation to 24 attendees at the Cornwall Library.
“Our system is struggling,” said Kosciusko. “Cornwall is doing better than most than most, but we’re all struggling.”
Kosciusko, who also volunteers for Cornwall Emergency Medical Service (CEMS), Canaan Fire Company and Goshen Fire Company, said the demographic of emergency responders in the area is aging.
“We’re getting older and an influx of new young volunteers in our system seems to be waning,” said Kosciusko.
He estimated that there are about 20 active emergency responders total for CVFD and CEMS. The lack of new volunteers has required Cornwall to outsource help from neighboring towns recently for the first time in decades.
“I was an officer on the rescue squad for about 25 years and that never happened once,” he said. “That’s kind of a new phenomenon.”
He said there are a wide range of service levels in emergency response and that all forms of assistance are of value.
“There’s all different levels of participation that a person can choose; from being there just a little bit, to being there all the time, and there’s everything in between,” said Kosciusko.
Those interested in learning more about volunteering for emergency services in Cornwall can email infocvfd@gmail.com or call 860-672-6526.
Classic styles, bold colors, and creative concerts make up the “Imaginary Concerts” line at Peggy Mercury.Provided
Shirts from Peggy Mercury’s first fashion line, “Imaginary Concerts,” hang on display.Provided
