HOPKINTON — The Hopkinton-Ft Jackson Fire Department has received a $750 grant from New York State to help facilitate training for its volunteer firefighters.

The funding, paid out from the state’ Volunteer Firefighter Training Stipend program, is part of about $140,000 in training aid paid out among dozens of volunteer departments statewide.

According to a press release from the governor’s office, the program seeks to strengthen the volunteer fire service by offsetting the costs of required trainings, making it easier for new recruits to join volunteer fire departments and help protect their communities.

Approximately nine million New Yorkers, nearly half of the state’s population, are served by volunteer firefighters, the governor’s office said.

Yet in recent years, more than 75 percent of these departments have reported a decrease in the number of individuals willing to volunteer and serve, said the state.

This is further compounded by the increased operational responsibilities beyond fire protection to include vehicle accidents, medical emergencies, hazardous material spills, and weather-related rescue operations. At the same time, calls for service have increased 29 percent from 1997 to 2020, said the governor’s office.

The $750 stipend received by the Hopkinton-Ft Jackson Fire Department will be used for basic exterior firefighting operations.