Oswego Fire Department revamps recruitment to fill future opening

OSWEGO, N.Y. (WSYR-TV) — As the Oswego Fire Department prepares for a large increase in retirements in the upcoming years, they are getting ahead of the game by ramping up recruitment efforts to ensure they have enough staff to continue keeping the city safe.

With more than 40% of employees eligible for retirement in 2030, the Oswego Fire Chief, Paul Conzone, claims they’re taking a proactive approach by attracting the best candidates for the future by eliminating some steps.

For attraction purposes, the department’s adjustment is eliminating an EMT certification before even applying. This will speed up the process by months and make it more affordable for recruits to try it out. Once employed, they will be able to take this training and exam at no cost.

“We can still maintain the same capability a month after people get hired. We found through the New York State Fire Academy we can send our recruits a month and they can get EMT certification in four weeks,” said Conzone.

They are also increasing visibility by attending job fairs, hosting informational nights, and offering their “Take Our Take,” opened to the public set for March 1, 2025.

For more information about the recruitment process and to apply, click here.

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