Gov. Kathy Hochul announced Friday $25 million in state funding will go towards volunteer fire services. The money will improve facilities and response capabilities for those departments.

Eighty-eight groups will be awarded this funding.

These volunteers have a lot of responsibility, said Gov. Hochul, and she wants to make sure it is not a financial burden.

“Firefighters should not have to wait for updated equipment, new PPE, fresh spaces for training programs, learning and for renovated spaces — you deserve better than that,” said Hochul. “You need to have the resources to match the caliber of the impact that you have on our communities.”

There are 1,600 volunteer fire departments, and 91,000 firefighters in New York state.