LOCAL

Franklin Co. emergency services study will help plan for future as volunteer numbers dwindle

Staff report

Staffing, response times, equipment and finances of the county's fire stations and ambulance squads are among the areas that will be examined in a study that will help plan for future needs. 

The county-wide study is the work of the Franklin County Emergency Services Alliance. 

“The goal is to maintain the current level of emergency services, equipment, and response time. The results of this study will help us to keep departments successful,” said Franklin County Emergency Services Alliance President Shawn Corwell in a news release.

Across the nation, municipalities are facing challenges including dwindling numbers of volunteers. Franklin County is no different. Across the state there has been an 88% decline in the number of volunteers. The county is at a critical point and the Franklin County Emergency Services Alliance chose to be pro-active in examining issues now, instead of reactive later.

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More:Study to look at local fire/EMS volunteering

Many of the firefighters who battle fires around the county are volunteers. Here a firefighter (not known if he is a volunteer) sprays water from a Franklin Fire Company ladder truck as a fire rages at Triple Nickel Auto Parts on Lincoln Way West, Hamilton Township, on Aug. 12, 2016.

The study costs $30,000 and is funded by a $15,000 grant from the Department of Community and Economic Development.  The remaining $15,000 is funded by each municipality, Franklin County Government, and two private donors. Partnerships with local state lawmakers Sen. Judy Ward, Rep. Rob Kauffman, Rep. Paul Schemel, Rep. Adam Harris, and former Sen. Rich Alloway made it possible to obtain grant funding.

Scott Ryno, Vice President of Fire and EMS Administration, Keystone Community Medical Services LLC., was chosen to conduct the study. Ryno is meeting with individual departments and leadership to assess resources.

The study will look at current staffing, type of equipment and condition, finances, location of resources, response times, number of incidents etc. and may take a year to complete. Once information has been gathered, it will be compiled and recommendations will be made.

The completed study will be released to the Franklin County Emergency Services Alliance Board, stakeholders, and the public.

“The number of Emergency Services Providers is critical to the health and safety of our communities,” said Corwell.