August 24, 2009

EAST CORNING -- A local volunteer fire department is doing something a little different to try to recruit more members.
     The East Corning Fire Department is taking to the airwaves.  That's right, commercials have been running for the past month on several Time-Warner Cable stations.  The goal is to inform the public about volunteer firefighting.
     Chief Gary Mapes says the ad campaign has been so successful, the department already has two new members.
     “Everybody sees us on it.  They say, 'We saw your commercial on TV!' it's great. We get out there, we get to know the community, and we get to know people and get our message out among all the other volunteer fire departments.  We're all in need of people, that's for sure,” said Mapes.
     A federal grant called SAFER, short for Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response helped pay for the commercials.
     Meanwhile, the department is expanding.  Members are putting the finishing touches on this 24x32 foot addition to house some of the department’s trucks and utility trailers.
     Local companies donated most of the supplies and money to pay for the addition.