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Neighbors Concerned about Emergency Services

Posted: 4:06 PM Jun 26, 2012
Reporter: Dave Byknish

Neighbors Concerned about Emergency Services

Steve Morris sees a problem brewing for people who live in western Augusta County.

“I'm concerned about the missed calls that happen,” said Morris. “They don't happen that often but whose house will it be at 2 or 3 o'clock in the morning that ambulance does not come?”

Because of a lack of volunteers, several rescue stations cannot be manned 24-hours a day.

“You have the volunteers that have done a good job, but it's a strain on them. In other words, you have a call that comes in at 4 o'clock in the morning, who's going to answer it? These people have a job they have to go to."

If there is a medical emergency in Craigsville, Deerfield or Mount Solon, it is possible that help may need to come from the Staunton or Augusta County Rescue Squads.

“Just because the agency that serves their area doesn't come to pick them up, there's normally a genuine reason why that's not happening. They're normally assisting another department that is having some issues,” said Deputy Fire Chief in Churchville Craig Williams.

Morris said he wants to depend on local emergency services and not those in other parts of the county.

“If an ambulance has to come to your house at 2, 3 o'clock in the morning to pick somebody up in your family, you want them to come don't you? You don't want him to have to depend on Staunton, Augusta to come. You know, they may be out on calls.”

Morris believes that the county needs to place a full time paid EMS staff member at the Churchville station.

“This will equal out to what other parts of the county are getting.”

During past budget negotiations, Augusta County Fire and Rescue Departments asked for funds to hire roughly 20 new paid staff members. They were given the funding for three.

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