Supervisors back volunteers' plan to step up coverage in rural areas

By DAN TELVOCK

Date published: 5/12/2007

By DAN TELVOCK

Spotsylvania supervisors support a volunteer-initiated plan to provide evening and weekend coverage to all county fire and rescue stations by the end of summer.

Leaders of the volunteer organizations said this week that they're happy to have the supervisors' approval.

But some critics wonder how long the 400 or so volunteers will be able to fill the gaps created when paid staff members go off duty.

In March, Spotsylvania supervisors gave the Fire and EMS Commission 30 days to come up with a plan to provide evening and weekend coverage for the entire county, and specifically stations in Thornburg, Partlow and Belmont. These rural stations experience some of the county's lowest call volumes.

Commission Chairman Kevin Dillard, who presented a plan to supervisors April 26, said the volunteer agencies are energized to meet the public's needs.

"Seven to zero says a lot," he said, referring to the supervisors' vote in favor of his plan during the work session. "I went into that meeting very nervous and I think the Board of Supervisors spoke loud and clear for their support of the combined system. The volunteers needed to really hear that."

THE VOLUNTEERS' PLAN

Dillard, who also is the administrative chief for Chancellor Volunteer Fire and Rescue, said Spotsylvania Volunteer Fire Department and the Spotsylvania Volunteer Rescue Squad will fill coverage gaps at stations in Thornburg and Partlow.

Volunteers will focus on the busier Thornburg station by immediately staffing it on weekends. They will build up to weeknight coverage for full staffing by the end of the summer. (Paid fire and EMS crews cover the stations on weekdays.)

Chancellor Volunteer Fire and Rescue is covering rescue calls at the Belmont station with help from Spotsylvania Volunteer Rescue Squad. The Spotsylvania Volunteer Fire Department is covering fire calls.

Dillard said the three volunteer agencies initially planned to have 24/7 coverage for all stations by July 2009. But the urgency supervisors expressed forced them to speed things up.

Volunteers are working extra shifts and volunteer firefighters are now driving some ambulances.

"The help didn't come out of nowhere," Dillard said. "Keep in mind, Spotsylvania Volunteer Rescue Squad was trying to cover those three stations by themselves."

The long-term plan is to recruit more volunteers, Dillard said.

24/7 COVERAGE Actions Fire and EMS Commission Chairman Kevin Dillard says will expedite 24/7 fire and rescue coverage in the county: Hold community meetings in affected areas Begin continuous recruitment campaign for volunteers, starting with a media blitz this month Work with county's new volunteer recruitment and retention coordinator; eventually create same post at each of the three volunteer agencies Track number of volunteers who enter and leave the system quarterly; conduct exit interviews Give agency leaders and commission members monthly reports to include staffing and response time for each station; report back to supervisors Schedule training classes at the three rural stations Hold agencies accountable for meeting staffing and response time goals Work with the county to celebrate the successes of the volunteer system Number of calls by station, 2006 Four-Mile Fork 4,797 Salem Church 3, 147 Courthouse 1,774 Five-Mile Fork 1,772 Thornburg 875 Brokenburg 615 Wilderness 547 Belmont 451 Partlow 427

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Date published: 5/12/2007