Why Bunk-In at Solvay?
There are many reasons why Solvay is a great place to Bunk-in while attending college. Below are a few of the BIG ones that one may consider when searching for a fire department that best fits their needs.
A Busy Environment
The Solvay Fire Department is one of the busiest volunteer fire companies in Onondaga County with an active student bunk-in program. Yearly the department responds to more than 1500 emergency calls. Most of the calls are answered from Station One where students reside, making our students some of the most active responders in the county. Solvay Fire gives student bunk-ins the chance to reinforce their classroom education with real world hands on experience. On top of the amount of runs our department handles annualy, Solvay also gives student bunk-ins the opportunity to train and learn more through various drills and training events held throughout the year.
Aside from training and calls, Solvay also offers students the chance to participate in details that cannot be found elswhere.These opportunities include the chance to provide fire & rescue services to the New York State Fair, Syracuse Nationals, Super Dirt Week, fire prevention details, amongst other community events.
Both Solvay fire stations are within minutes from area colleges. It takes no more than fifteen minutes to drive to Onondaga Community College and twenty minutes to Syracuse University or LeMoyne College. Both stations offer an easy commute no matter the weather conditions.
Close Proximity to Area Colleges
Diverse Fire District
Nowhere else will you find the diversity and potential that lies within the boundaries of our fire district. Our district consists of everything from heavy industry to bustling strip malls to quiet residential suburbs. The Village of Solvay is very Urban and offers a unique interface when dealing with emergency response. Most of the village consists of multi-family homes, garden apartments, and taxpayers (mainstreet USA). Parts of the Town of Geddes we provide coverage to is mostly single family housing ranging anywhere from older balloon and platform frame construction to modern lightweight construction. In addition to all this, Solvay Fire also responds to numerous emergencies on the I-690 and Rt. 695 corridor that cuts through the Northern portions of our coverage area. Plus many different railroad companies transport goods and people via multiple railways. And did we mention, the whole entire NYS Fairgrounds lies within our first due response area.
Click on the Map Button to view a rough outline of our fire district!
Outside of the firehouse our students are only minutes away from many great Syracuse attractions to spend their downtime at. Destiny USA, the NYS Fairgrounds, and many grocery stores as well as restaraunts are within a five minute drive from the station. In Downtown Syracuse students can enjoy the Onondaga County War Memorial home to the AHL team Syracuse Crunch, the Carrier Dome home to Syracuse University Athletics, as well as many other hotspots around the city only ten minutes away. For recreation, the area has countless county and state parks offering an array of activities from hiking or biking, to any other sport imaginable.
Contiguity to Local Attractions
Above All Though, School Comes First
The Solvay Fire Department takes great consideration into the fact that Student Bunk-Ins are here for College. For this reason, Solvay Fire prides itself in having a fairly strict academic policy ensuring students are meeting at least a 2.5 G.P.A. each semster. If at anytime a student bunk-ins G.P.A. drops below this standard, the bunk-in will be placed on a one semester probationary period where they will have the chance to meet the standard. If they don't students will be unable to move forward as a student bunk-in in our program.
Student bunk-ins are afforded as much time needed to complete their college work while living at our station. Also students have many resources available to them well living at the station and attending classes. For example use of the training room and conference room for studying, along with programs that the campuses offer to help student exceed in their course work.
Our Bunk-In Coordinators are always willing to work with students when it comes their academic studies to ensure they develop good habits and succeed in their degree programs.