CU students are among IFD volunteer bunkers

From left, bunker trainees Kevin Pilz, Cornell graduate student, and junior William Jones receive instruction from Ithaca firefighter Rob Covert, a 1989 Cornell graduate, during a training session Aug. 18 at the fire department's training facility near the Ithaca city golf course. Sheryl Sinkow/University Photography Note: This caption has been corrected.

In an intensive three-week program that ended Aug. 20, the newest members of the Ithaca Fire Department (IFD) -- including eight Cornell students -- trained from morning until night, learning the basics of protecting lives and property in the city and town of Ithaca. Five of the Cornell students will "bunk" or live in IFD fire stations.

Since the 1920s, bunkers (mostly college students by tradition) have contracted to serve as residential volunteer firefighters and emergency responders, acting as support for IFD's career staff. In exchange for commitment to a high degree of service (currently about 100 hours each month) according to an established duty schedule, bunkers earn housing without charge in an Ithaca fire station. Members of this year's class will bunk at several fire houses in the city and town of Ithaca, including station No. 5 on South Hill, No. 6 on West Hill and No. 9 in Collegetown. Some will respond from the department's central fire station downtown, although they will not live there full time.

The new firefighters bring the department's anticipated total bunker strength to 22 for the new academic year. This year's training class was double the size of recent ones, according to IFD officials. In addition to the eight Cornell students, there are three from Ithaca College, one each from Corning and Tompkins Cortland community colleges and three non-student volunteers.

The training program comprises more than 130 hours of instruction, enough to qualify for full certification under New York state's "Training 2000" program, plus two additional state training certifications and the skills needed to safely and effectively fulfill IFD service responsibilities.

"During the academic year, bunkers are an important element of the department's initial response force and of our overall community protection program," said IFD Volunteer Coordinator Marcia Lynch. "We are pleased that an effective outreach effort, supported by our academic and community partners, has produced a large, very solid class whose members will serve the community well."

Lynch said recruitment for this year's bunker class "successfully counteracted an incremental decline in participation over the past year, which had been produced by a series of personal circumstances," such as bunkers finishing their academic programs, relocating out of the area or being hired as IFD career firefighters, among other reasons.

Promotion this past spring included an aggressive advertising and public-service campaign, facilitated in part by Ithaca's Collegetown Neighborhood Council. "This effort helped spread the word about the program beyond the campuses, which has also increased program diversity," Lynch said.

As in the past, Lynch explained, both Ithaca College and Cornell provided significant in-kind support. Ithaca College supplied meals for trainees and instructors throughout the three-week training period, and Cornell sponsored the graduation picnic on Aug. 20.

In addition to IFD, the Cayuga Heights Fire Department (CHFD) operates a bunker program for volunteers. The CHFD is planning an addition to its fire hall, which will expand the capacity for bunkers in the village.

For more information on how to help protect the Ithaca community as a volunteer fire fighter or residential bunker, contact IFD's Lynch at 272-1234.