Rural fire departments manage challenges — with your support
When Mechanicsburg Fire Department officials received notification that country music superstar Luke Bryan would be holding an outdoor concert Sept. 16, we knew there would be serious challenges. As the assistant fire chief/EMS coordinator, I know that large entertainment events bring unique issues.
We were given the task of making sure that not only the general safety needs of the event would be addressed, but also that the on-site emergency medical service needs of all patrons would be provided for — all while also ensuring that continued service to the general public would not be interrupted. In a community with a service population of roughly 7,500 residents, a sudden influx of 15,000 concertgoers creates a substantial challenge.
Notification of the event occurred in early spring. That gave us less than six months to prepare. Mechanicsburg Fire Chief Robert Keene immediately began to formulate a plan. Knowing that the magnitude of such an event would create a staffing hardship, Chief Keene reached out to surrounding departments. Johnson St Paris Fire Department, Madison County EMD, Jerome Twp., Fire Dept. and NECCFD all graciously committed to send an EMS crew along with a vehicle.
I coordinated EMS oversight efforts with a group of volunteer nurses from Mercy Health Systems. Collectively, the on-site medical staffing consisted of pre-hospital paramedics, nursing and EMT medical professionals.
Substantial input from the concert organizers proved to be an invaluable resource in key decisions.
Contracted event security worked closely with the Madison County Sheriff ’s Office to ensure orderly conduct and safety of all concert patrons. Public safety services from surrounding counties also provided additional resources.
Finally, event day arrived, and the Luke Bryan “Farm Tour” concert proved to be a success. Thanks to the meticulous efforts of those charged with the task of on-site general safety, incidents were kept at a minimum.
Managing a rural fire department that employs a staff of parttime employees presents its own set of challenges. Rural fire/EMS department administrators often devote uncompensated personal time and efforts to assure their department is in compliant with all applicable laws, codes, and regulations.
These day-to-day challenges can be overwhelming to the administrative staff, and likewise to the part-time and volunteer staff who also have to juggle other employment and home life.
The general public is largely unaware of these issues and may even take for granted the availability of the service itself, without realizing the tremendous sacrifices required.
Residents of communities such as Mechanicsburg are fortunate to have dedicated citizens who choose to accept the challenges and responsibilities of making sure the public enjoys a safe community to live in.
We encourage all those who reside in small, rural communities to extend your support to these safety services at every opportunity. They are truly the definition of “the unsung hero.”