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Volunteer fire chiefs say they’re not getting support

Local volunteer fire departments are upset with county agencies who they feel are not helping them.

However, during Thursday’s meeting of the Washington County Board of Commissioners, members of the board say they have heard nothing from local fire chiefs.

“I have never gotten a call from any fire departments,” Commission President Ron Feathers said.

Commissioner Kevin Ritter also said he hasn’t taken a single call from a fire chief.

“I did have an indirect message from somebody who was related to someone who was on one of the fire departments,” said Commissioner David White. “They said that they’ve nearly used up all of their disposable equipment and wanted to know if there was anything to be done, but the state has been directing everything they could through the (Emergency Management Agency).”

But local fire chiefs believe they shouldn’t have to reach out to the county to get help.

Lowell-Adams Volunteer Fire Department Chief Josh Harris said he’s very unhappy with how the commissioners and the EMA have approached the COVID-19 crisis.

“Myself and a couple of the fire chiefs in the county have had to get our own (personal protective equipment),” Harris said. “An EMA office is who should be taking care of this. In other counties, I know for a fact, (the county) has stepped up and helped the volunteer fire departments.”

He said he’s disgusted with the commissioners and EMA, as none of them have reached out to him.

Harris said a couple of weeks ago, he and the chief and deputy chief from the Reno Volunteer Fire Department went out and bought their own equipment.

“We went to local businesses and got our own stock and helped out Barlow, New Matamoras, Fearing and Warren fire departments,” he explained. “We had to buy our own Tyvek suits, safety goggles, N95 masks and surgical masks.”

Dan Ritchey, chief of the Reno VFD, said he didn’t get any offers in the county for help.

“We were told nothing was available,” he said. “We had some contacts and were able to find a bunch of suits, so what Reno did was bought all they had, then we sent most of it out to fire departments in Washington County.”

Ritchey wanted to keep the equipment in the county, so they bought everything the place had, he said.

In return for helping out the other departments, Ritchey said they are only charging what they paid for the equipment.

He said the EMA came through Reno with limited supplies, but it wasn’t enough.

“We needed supplies three weeks ago,” Ritchey said. “We didn’t get any help from anybody here in the county. We’ve always just taken the lead role and taken care of ourselves, plus all of our neighboring departments who needed stuff.”

As a volunteer fire chief, Ritchey said he doesn’t think it’s his responsibility to reach out to the commission or EMA for assistance.

“They should have called us and asked us ‘what do you need’ and ‘what can I do to help,'” he said. “I hope this is all dealt with when all of this is over.”

White said the fire departments aren’t county agencies, so any assistance shouldn’t come from the commission. Any help for the fire departments for an emergency or catastrophe such as this would come from either the Washington County Health Department or the EMA.

Washington County EMA director Rich Hays said the agency is coordinating with fire departments.

“I’ve talked to Josh (Harris) and Mark Fisher, the squad chief for the Reno fire department. I’ve been coordinating with Seth Deem, who is the EMS Association president,” said Hays. “Seth took control of the PPE requests for the county.”

Hays said on March 18, Deem submitted the information about needed equipment to Hays, who forwarded it on to the state. Hays said he picked up the PPE on Wednesday.

“It’s not as much as we need,” Hays said. “Everybody is getting the minimal amount of PPE.”

In other commission news, a bid specification was approved for the rehabilitation of the Warren Township Bridge on Benedict Road. The estimated cost of the project is $377,124 and bids are accepted until 10 a.m. April 28.

Michele Newbanks can be reached at mnewbanks@mariettatimes.com.

At a glance:

•Local fire chiefs are unhappy about the lack of help from the county.

•Volunteer fire departments have been purchasing their own personal protective equipment.

•Fire departments are helping other fire departments in the county get needed equipment.

•Equipment purchased includes Tyvek suits, safety goggles, N95 masks and surgical masks.

Source: Times research.

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