Paid firefighters/EMTs hired part-time amid COVID crisis

Fire and rescue companies see at-risk volunteers step back from service

Chief Todd Brown of the Chester Gap Volunteer Fire Department learned in the third week of March that he was losing three volunteer firefighter/EMTs.

The reason: They were stepping back to avoid putting their family members at risk of contracting the COVID-19 virus.

Brown sprang into action and prepared a request to County Administrator Garrey W. Curry Jr. and Emergency Services and Management Coordinator Kevin Williams to hire EMTs outside the county.

“We got the green light to go ahead and hire parttime firefighter/EMTs to fill the gap, and I’m pleased to report we are in good shape to respond to any medical emergencies in our service area,” said Brown.

“We’ve hired personnel outside the county so as not to pull away personnel from other companies in Rap

pahannock. These are part-time paid professionals working right alongside our volunteers,” he said.

The county’s seven fire and rescue companies rely on volunteers, many of whom are over 65. Others live with family members with underlying medical conditions increasing the volunteers’ risk to the virus. Several companies have reported some volunteers have stepped back from service.

As the emergency stretches into the weeks and months ahead, older volunteers, many with years of service, will have to make tough choices as to whether they will continue.

“These are very hard decisions,” said Matthew Black, a driver for the Sperryville Volunteer Rescue Squad (SVRS). “With age and underlying medical conditions being such risk factors, there is a real tug of war between serving the community and putting yourself and family members at risk. At what point does continuing to serve become an overly risky decision? There are no ‘doovers’ here.”

“We are doing everything we can to assure that our first responders are protected when making calls,” said J.B. Carter, chief of the Amissville volunteer squad. “We are following strict protocols to identify patients with an elevated risk of COVID-19.

“When answering a call, we send one responder in to assess the situation with others held in reserve. All responders are required to wear personal protective equipment (PPE) — gloves, gowns, masks and eye protection. To reduce exposure from potential asymptomatic virus carriers, all patients, even those who do not screen for the virus, are required to wear masks.”

Williams, who lauded Brown’s quick action, said the other companies “are holding their own, but things could change quickly if we are hit hard by the virus.” Should other companies need to hire outside EMTs he expects those costs, if expenditure threshold caps are met, could eventually be covered without using county funds.

“When Administrator Curry declared a local State of Emergency in response to the threat of COVID-19, this allowed for reimbursement from the state and federal government for these kinds of expenditures,” he said.

Asked what would happen if outside paid EMTs were no longer available, Williams said he would call on the Virginia Department of Emergency Management for backup assistance.

“We are holding a conference call weekly with the company chiefs to make sure their needs are being met. I have high praise for our fire and rescue companies — they always come together to meet whatever need is out there,” he said.

Todd Summers, chief of the Sperryville rescue company, said several of their active volunteers had to stop running calls.

“We still have enough responders to handle our call load, but if we get hit hard by the virus things will get dicey,” he said. “One patient with the virus could potentially expose two or three responders putting them in quarantine. That would put a real dent in our volunteer workforce.”

Summers added, “I am continually concerned about our older community members, particularly those with underlying medical conditions. We need to flatten the curve of infections, which is why social distancing, hand washing, and wearing masks is so important.”

To aid the companies, Hampton Supervisor Keir Whitson is compiling a list of guest houses or stand-alone living quarters in the county where first responders could quarantine if there was concern that they were exposed to the virus.

“Many in the community have generously offered housing where our first responders can safely isolate and not put their families at risk,” he said.

Whitson reported that 10 homes have been identified and he is working on expanding that list.

The economic downturn has also played an unexpected role.

“Some of our volunteers have been laid off or furloughed due to the economic conditions caused by the pandemic,” said Harold Beebout, president of the Rappahannock Volunteer Fire and Rescue Association. “This has freed up more time for these volunteers to help out.”

Beebout is optimistic about what might lie ahead.

“We are doing everything we can to stay on top of the situation,” he said. “We have experienced, dedicated responders and my message is one of reassurance to our community.”