This is going on in more places than Crisp County. We are working towards covering some more areas, but it isnt a quick fix. When we began forming our volunteer groups, adding in paid personnel, and building stations, we were told as long as 70-80 percent had adequate coverage, the rest would be included. It used to be a five mile as the crow flies radius that was considered. That now has switched to 5 miles driving, so it has really changed things. Chief Ray Lunsford said this would be like 11 Stations it would take to cover the county under these conditions, almost twice what we have now, and what we have now actually does a great job with the people and equipment in place. Contrast that to Worth county which is 58-60 miles from its north to south border. As early volunteers we realized the importance of the paid staff, and our camaraderie supported being there when we needed to be. Most of the time we have units enroute soon after the call is dispatched, rather than when a volunteer an get to the station and pick up a truck. In rural fire, time and water is always of the essence, so those minutes are precious. In Crisp County, our Fire-Rescue works fires, accidents, medical emergency, and numerous assist when needed. You have the same great or better fire protection that we began some 30 years ago with a ragtag operation of volunteers, paid guys, fire knockers, and an old block building....which has evolved into the system of engines, outlying stations, paid and volunteer radio equipped staff, and equipment. Our trucks carry hurst tools, defibrillators, and a host of fire fighting and suppression equipment, and people trained to use them. About a year ago, Captain Roosevelt Smith retired with 30 years in, I remember as a volunteer, his first day on the job. Just saying, we have a great Crisp County Fire-Rescue, we have your fire protection intact, we just cant fix this problem with the insurance rates in the problem areas quickly, but we are working towards solutions.
Posted on: Wed, 30 Jul 2014 12:36:40 +0000
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