Front Line Neighbors: Volunteer Firefighting in Margaretville and the Catskills

🎙️ Neighbors on the Front Lines: Margaretville FD and the Spirit of Catskills Volunteerism

Episode Description: In this episode of Kaatscast, we head to Margaretville, New York, where volunteer firefighters train for blitz attacks—a high-volume water technique used to knock down fires fast. But this story goes beyond the hose line. It’s about community, commitment, and declining volunteerism nationwide.

With over 90% of New York’s fire departments staffed by volunteers, towns like Margaretville rely on neighbors—teachers, shopkeepers, reporters, and retirees—to respond when disaster strikes. Hear from training officer Jon Schebesta and longtime volunteers like Nate Hendricks, Lissa Harris, and others, as they share personal stories, challenges in recruitment, and the evolving role of fire departments in rural life.

From floods to flames, prop windows to real emergencies, this episode honors the people who show up—when the siren sounds in the middle of dinner.

Topics Covered:

• Blitz attack training and deck gun drills

• Declining volunteerism in rural communities

• Personal stories from Margaretville FD members

• Emergency response beyond firefighting

• Roles for volunteers of all backgrounds

• Funding and equipment in rural departments

Location: Margaretville Fire Department, Catskills, NY

Listen & Subscribe: Stream anytime at kaatscast.com or wherever you get your podcasts. Follow us on Instagram @kaatscast.

Watch the short documentary, Growing Up Catskills, featuring Phoenicia's Gene Gormley: https://vimeo.com/224535275