Volunteer firefighting companies are calling on the state legislature to pass a law that would allow them to charge for the ambulance services that they provide.
Last week, the Firemen's Association of the State of New York and its members held a legislative outreach event at the Cambria Volunteer Fire Hall to vouch for such a bill. Assembly Member Michael Norris and Sen. Rob Ortt were both present at the event.
Ed Tase of Lockport, second vice chair of FASNY, said about 90 percent of the calls fielded by volunteer fire services are ambulance-related.
Tase said volunteer fire companies foot the bill for everything associated with an ambulance, which he estimated comes in between $160,000 and $200,000. Fire companies would just like to recoup their costs, he said.
Currently, volunteer fire companies are covering their ambulance costs through fundraisers. One of the biggest fundraisers, gun raffle, may be outlawed by New York State, according to Tase.