www.roanoke.com

Fincastle Volunteer Fire Crew.

Volunteers and Career Staff – Working Together In Fincastle

Fincastle, VA- In late January 2011, Botetourt County was awarded a FEMA grant of $946,578 over two years to cover the salary and benefits of 7 new emergency responders and one countywide training officer. Over 80 candidates were tested and screened to narrow the field to 8 highly qualified new staff members. On May 16th the new staff began working together with members of the Fincastle Volunteer Fire Department to provide services Countywide, based out of the recently expanded Fincastle Volunteer Fire Station.

Though cross-trained as EMT’s, the primary duty of the new career staff is to provide weekday support for fire and motor vehicle crash response. Hours of operation are 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM Monday through Friday, with 3 staff members on duty at any given time. These services are in addition to the 24×7 ambulance service which is also based in the Fincastle Fire station. In its first six months of operation, the fire crew has responded to 167 incidents. When not responding on actual calls, staff concentrates on several areas which are critical in preparation for emergencies. These include daily training exercises, equipment maintenance and readiness checks, and public fire safety education presentations.

Since the inception of this program, the Fincastle Volunteer Fire Department has been a gracious host. While the County has had a long and positive relationship with the Fincastle VFD, the two entities became much closer in 2007 though a joint effort to provide the County’s first career 24×7 ambulance transport service. The relationship fostered since has enabled a seamless addition of the career fire engine. “We can’t thank the volunteers in Fincastle Volunteer Fire Department enough,” commented Assistant County Administrator Spencer Suter. “They recognized a need and literally invited us into their home.” Suter further noted that the Fincastle Fire Department took it upon themselves to expand the fire station building, with construction being completed in 2010. “The Fincastle Volunteer Fire Department was forward thinking in their planning, ensuring that the building was prepared for the future,” commented Suter. “It is important to note that they did this without requesting any funding from the County. All the construction costs are being borne by the community via donations in support of a common need and fundraising efforts of the Fincastle Fire Department. This is why is so important to remember all volunteer Fire and Rescue agencies when deciding where to make charitable donations. We urge you to remember your local volunteer agencies, no matter where you live,” he said. Committed to their community, volunteers such as Chief David Moran, Assistant Chief Greg Miller, and Captain Gary Taylor regularly respond during weekday hours along with the staffed fire truck. Leaving their jobs and families to respond during the day with the career staff, they also form the backbone of the firefighting fighting force in the Town of Fincastle and the surrounding areas during the night and on weekends.

Recruiting and retaining volunteers is a difficult proposition, given the demands of everyday life. While the rigors of training and call response are challenging, the rewards of a grateful community are gratifying. The Fincastle Fire Department wants the citizens to know that they are still doing their part to keep the community safe. The combined efforts with Botetourt County are a testament to their dedication to the common goal of citizen protection. “This is a great example of how a combination system is supposed to work – everyone working toward the common goal of providing the service” said Emergency Services Battalion Chief Jason Ferguson. “We’re here to do what’s right for the community; these guys are now part of our family and we’re going to make sure we work together for the common good,” explained Fincastle Volunteer Fire Chief David Moran.

So if you see a fire truck in the your community, it may be manned by either volunteer or career staffing – or both. The occupants may be responding to a call, conducting a pre-fire inspection plan, or simply ensuring that equipment and plans are prepared for the next emergency. Becoming familiar with roads, neighborhoods, and hydrant system are of immeasurable importance when an emergency strikes. Feel free to wave them down and say hi. Whether volunteer or career, they are there to help. For more information, or to schedule a pre-fire plan visit or public education event, go to www.yourbces.org

–submitted by Jason Ferguson