Last updated: September 9, 2026
The Volunteer Firemen’s Association of the City of New York (“VFANYC,” “we,” “us,” or “our”) operates this website. This policy explains how we handle information when you visit vfanyc.org, send a general inquiry, or submit a department interest form.
Information we collect
You may provide your name, email address, optional telephone number, ZIP code, department selection, membership interests, questions or relevant experience, and confirmations about a department’s published geographic or age requirements. Please do not submit Social Security numbers, medical information, financial-account information, criminal-history information, or other sensitive information through a website form.
Our website and service providers may also process limited technical information needed to deliver and protect the website, including IP address, browser and device type, requested pages, date and time, referring page, security events, and cookie or consent preferences. Recruitment form entries are configured not to store an applicant’s IP address, although infrastructure and security providers may still process it to deliver and protect the website.
How we use information
- Respond to general, privacy, and accessibility inquiries.
- Route a recruitment inquiry to the selected member department or an authorized VFANYC representative.
- Perform preliminary checks against a department’s published eligibility rules.
- Prevent spam, fraud, abuse, and security incidents.
- Operate, maintain, and improve the website.
- Meet applicable legal, grant, recordkeeping, and safety obligations.
A form may prevent submission when the information does not match a department’s published rule. This is a preliminary routing check only. Submitting a form is not acceptance into membership, and a blocked submission is not a final membership decision. If you believe a form rejected your information in error or you need an accessible alternative, email [email protected].
Who may receive information
We may share information with the member department you select, authorized association personnel, and providers that support hosting, content delivery, security, email delivery, forms, spam prevention, analytics, and consent management. We may also disclose information when required by law or reasonably necessary to protect people, VFANYC, a member department, or the website. Member departments are separate organizations and may have their own membership processes and privacy practices.
VFANYC does not sell personal information and does not use recruitment submissions for cross-context behavioral advertising.
Cookies, analytics, and embedded content
The website uses necessary technologies for core operation, security, forms, and preference storage. With consent where required, it may also use analytics or load third-party media. Use Manage Cookie Consent in the footer to review or change nonessential choices. Third-party content may allow its provider to receive technical information and set cookies under its own policy.
How long we keep information
VFANYC currently does not automatically delete website form submissions on a fixed schedule, so they may be retained indefinitely unless they are deleted during an administrative review or in response to an appropriate verified request. We may retain information as needed for legal, grant, safety, security, recordkeeping, and dispute-resolution purposes. A receiving member department and our service providers may keep their own copies under their own retention practices. VFANYC is developing a written retention schedule and will update this policy when one is adopted.
Security
We use reasonable administrative, technical, and organizational safeguards designed to protect website information. No website, email message, or storage system can be guaranteed completely secure. Do not use a public website form to send urgent or highly sensitive information.
Access, correction, and deletion requests
You may ask to access, correct, or delete personal information you submitted through this website, subject to applicable legal, safety, and recordkeeping requirements. Email [email protected] with the subject “Privacy Request.” We may need to verify your identity and determine whether VFANYC or a member department controls the record.
Children and applicants under 18
This website is not directed to children under 13, and children under 13 should not submit personal information through it. Prospective junior members under 18 should involve a parent or legal guardian. A department may require parental consent and additional documentation before beginning a junior-member process.
Third-party links
Our pages link to member-department and third-party websites. Their privacy, accessibility, and security practices are their own.
Changes to this policy
We may update this policy as our website and practices change. We will revise the “Last updated” date when we make changes.
Contact us
Volunteer Firemen’s Association of the City of New York
P.O. Box 940642
Rockaway Park, NY 11694
[email protected]