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Supervisors back volunteers' plan to step up coverage in rural areas 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' 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.
Read more stories about Spotsylvania Date published: 5/12/2007
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