As wildfires increase in the Northeast, volunteer fire departments are helping people get ready for emergencies. A new fire service training academy is equipping locals, ages 14 to 65, with the practical skills needed to protect their homes and communities — no prior experience required.

“You must be able to carry 40 pounds, pass a physical, and be up to date on your vaccines,” said Scott Duncan, chief of a East Berne Fire Company.

The six-week course offers participants hands-on experiences with everything from pump operations to wildfire suppression techniques.

“We’ll do some live fire burns, fire lines there’s hands-on with all the tools and equipment,” said Duncan.

For many, the training is about more than firefighting. “Everyone should take this class. I brought my son, who’s 15 — these are lifelong skills everyone should have,” said Sachin Kabale, a program participant.

The United Nations Environment Programme warns that climate change could increase extreme fire incidents by up to 14% in the next five years, and wildfires that devastate communities often start small.

“If we have a properly trained person in the right place at the right time, we could save hundreds of thousands of dollars in damage,” Duncan added.

The program also addresses the growing need for volunteer firefighters in New York. Numbers have dropped by roughly 40,000 in the past two decades, according to the Firefighter’s Association of the State of New York.

“Help your community, especially if they help you,” said Willy Yates, another trainee. “If something were to happen to them or their family, we get to serve them.”

For some, the academy has inspired an interest in joining the fire service full-time. For others, it’s a chance to be ready to protect family and neighbors should disaster strike. As Chief Duncan put it, discovering the camaraderie and purpose of the “fire family” can be its own reward.