Fire departments across the Catskills region are running out of firefighters as full-time staffers retire or get priced out of the communities they serve. The staffing crisis is hitting small towns particularly hard, with volunteer rosters thinning as local housing costs climb.
The problem is especially acute in hamlets like Shandaken, where affordable housing for essential workers has all but vanished. Many longtime firefighters can no longer afford to live in the areas where they work, forcing them to relocate and leave their posts behind.
Second-home owners, who might once have filled volunteer roles, are largely absent during the week and unavailable for emergency calls. The shifting demographic—from year-round residents to part-time visitors—has hollowed out the traditional volunteer base that rural departments depend on.
Departments are now scrambling to cover shifts, often pulling mutual aid from neighboring towns already facing similar shortages. The strain raises questions about emergency response times and long-term public safety if the trend continues.
Some local officials argue that zoning reforms or housing subsidies could help attract and retain firefighters, but no immediate solutions have been adopted. Without intervention, the ability to maintain basic fire protection in the Catskills remains uncertain.