To the Editor:
Volunteer first responders (both fire and first aid) have been the time-honored standard in all our LBI communities. Losing this volunteerism would not only be expensive, but a loss of tradition in our fiercely independent LBI hamlets.
These volunteer fire and first aid companies are facing increasingly difficult times. Volunteerism has been steadily decreasing. Along with this, the cost of equipment including trucks, ambulances, respirators, gurneys, etc. has escalated markedly.
July 24, 2025
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