The Culpeper County Volunteer Rescue Squad is operating again.
According to county Director of Emergency Services Tom Williams, the county's oldest unit, also known as Company 11, opened its doors again about 10 a.m. yesterday. Attempts to reach Company 11 officials yesterday were unsuccessful.
Company 11 was unexpectedly suspended by state authorities on Jan. 2. While the specific reasons remain a mystery, rescue squad President Tricia Trenary said in early January that the citation was issued "because we're not answering 100 percent of our calls 24 hours a day, seven days a week, continuously."
Williams said yesterday that his office received a fax from the Virginia Office of Emergency Medical Services saying the suspension would be lifted.
"We then heard over the radio [Tuesday] morning that Company 11 was operating again," Williams added.
Williams said it was his understanding that a hearing on the suspension is still scheduled for next Tuesday at Virginia Department of Transportation headquarters on Orange Road.
Because of Company 11's suspension, Culpeper County's paid emergency staff has not been allowed to use either the squad's station or its vehicles for almost two months.
The county has been using the Emergency Operations Center as a headquarters and was loaned extra vehicles by Reva and Spotsylvania County units.
Donnie Johnston:
Email: djohnston@freelancestar.com