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' PLANDillard, 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.
If the goals aren't met, Dillard said supervisors may reduce funding. The fiscal year 2008 budget includes $500,000 for the volunteer agencies.
CRITICS SPEAK OUTCarl Maurice, a citizen member of the fire and rescue commission, recommended that paid staff cover the three rural stations by increasing some employees' schedules from 13-hour to 24-hour workdays.
Commissioners voted his proposal down 3-2 April 4, with Fire and Rescue Chief Chris Eudailey voting for it.
Maurice, a retired paid Fairfax deputy chief, said the volunteers are making a good-faith effort, but "the county as a whole is trying to get by on the cheap."
Jason Irby, president of the Spotsylvania Career Firefighters Union, wonders how long volunteers can sustain the coverage, especially with a new station at Salem Fields due to open in December.
"They are stretched extremely thin at this point," he said. "We're talking about minutes when someone is having a heart attack or someone's house is on fire. We can't wait until the end of summer for that coverage."
Sheryl Bennett, coordinator of the Spotsylvania Coalition for 24/7 Fire and Emergency Services, said the group wants a system that works.
"We applaud their efforts, and we hope it fulfills all of their expectations," she said.
Bennett said she was concerned supervisors failed to consider Eudailey's proposal Tuesday to extend paid staff hours, which would have required more money.
Supervisor Gary Jackson said the option volunteers offered is the most cost effective.
"As long as the volunteers are making progress, then let's try to go that route," he said.
Supervisor Hap Connors said supervisors endorsed the volunteers' plan when the board passed the budget April 27. He said he was surprised by Eudailey's proposal.
"We have 4oo people providing this service, and I still think we need a management plan to use them more efficiently," he said.
'IT'S BEEN IMPROVED'Supervisor T.C. Waddy said he has seen improvement at the Belmont fire and rescue station since Chancellor Volunteer Fire and Rescue members started helping run calls there in April.
Waddy said a friend's diabetic wife didn't have to wait long for a response recently.
"It didn't take but seven minutes," he said.
In the past, Waddy has complained of response times of up to 45 minutes.
Supervisor Emmitt Marshall agreed there has been improvement at the Partlow and Thornburg stations. "People out there, they see it, they are telling me it is improved," Marshall said.
Connors said he's happy with the volunteers' progress.
"They couldn't do it three months ago because there was friction between the three volunteer agencies," he said. "We have overcome that."
Dan Telvock: 540/374-5438| 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 |