Elsmere Fire Company Bunk-in Program

06/04/2026

Throwback Thursday. Back in 2023 the Elsmere Fire Company was featured in FANSY's monthly periodical "The Volunteer Firefighter". See below for information on Bunk-In programs throughout the state and how our Bun-In program enables our student-firefighters to achieve their goals!

09/29/2025

08/21/2025

The Elsmere Fire Company would like to welcome our 2025 Bunk-In Students Payton Kothe and Ethan Pellerin.

Payton joins us from the Olive Fire Department and is persuing degree in Computer Numerical Control Machining from Hudson Valley Community College. Ethan is from Rexford FD and is enrolled in the Emergency Preparedness, Homeland Security, and Cyber Security program at SUNY Albany.

Welcome gentleman, do great things!

03/16/2025

The annual New York state burn ban is in effect from March 16 through May 14. Open burning is prohibited in New York, with some exceptions. Guidelines are available from the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation: https://on.ny.gov/3iehWWk

02/18/2025

The Elsmere Fire Company is currently accepting applications to our Bunk-in Program for the Fall 2025 semester!

The Bunk-in Program provides free student housing to volunteer firefighters who serve with the Elsmere Fire District while attending college in the Capital Region.

To qualify for the program, you must be a volunteer firefighter currently enrolled in college courses in the Capital Region.

Know a student who might be interested? Message us, or find out more about our program here: https://elsmerefire.org/fire-company/bunk-in-program/

12/04/2024

News Channel 13 featured our own Hayden Kothe and his service through the Bunk-In Program. Learn about how Hayden got his start in the program and how Elsmere helps him meet his education goals.

There’s a struggle to find volunteer firefighters and EMTs. Capital Region fire departments have been spreading the word in hopes of recruiting new volunteers.

03/13/2024

In New York state, beyond urban areas, the majority of firefighting efforts are carried out by dedicated volunteers. However, there has been a noticeable decline in the number of volunteer firefighters in New York, with figures dropping from 120,000 to approximately 80,000 over the course of the past two decades. FASNY sheds light on the recruitment experiences of three volunteer departments, showcasing their proactive efforts in guaranteeing a sustainable and robust volunteer fire service in the Empire State for future generations. Learn more at FASNY.com.

In New York state, beyond urban areas, the majority of firefighting efforts are carried out by dedicated volunteers. However, there has been a noticeable dec...

01/08/2024

Here is part 2 of a two-part Spotlight News article, which highlights the Elsmere Fire Company Bunk-In program along with our partners at Delmar Bethlem EMS.

This is the second in a two-part series on how local emergency services are thinking “outside of the box” to solve volunteer shortages. ELSMERE — The Elsmere Fire Company and the Delmar-Bethlehem E…

11/26/2023

We have to thank our community for your constant support. Since the program began, we have had close to a dozen students serve with the Fire Company. 

Here is part 1 of a two-part Spotlight News article, which highlights the Elsmere Fire Company Bunk-In program along with our partners atDelmar Bethlem EMS.

This is part one of a two-part series on how local emergency services are thinking “outside of the box” to solve volunteer shortages. ELSMERE — Elsmere’s Fire Company is firing up its volunteer fir…