Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Ems Coverage topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Residents and supervisors press county over ambulances and Fort Mountain rescue coverage after multiple service gaps
Summary
Residents at the Board of Supervisors meeting described repeated days without local EMS coverage at the Fort Mountain rescue squad and asked the county for answers; supervisors requested updates from public safety leadership and urged restoration of dedicated staffing at the station.
Residents and supervisors raised alarms about local emergency medical services after Fort Mountain residents reported repeated days with no EMS crew at their station.
During public comment, Brenda Ferguson told the Board that Fort Mountain Rescue Squad has gone “two to three days consistently without any EMS coverage” and described a recent day with multiple priority‑one calls in which county resources had delayed responses. “We were promised many, many times that because our squad is on 220 … there would always be a career person there at our building to run calls,” Ferguson said. She said one recent trauma patient required lengthy resuscitation and the nearest responding county ambulance came from Ferrum after about an 18‑minute response from outside the district.
Supervisors acknowledged the complaint and asked county public‑safety leadership for follow‑up. Supervisor Quinn urged staff to get prompt answers and to restore local coverage where possible. Supervisor Jamieson asked that the county produce an update on squad staffing and on how crews are allocated across stations. Several supervisors said the county should request that vehicle markings reflect the station of origin when crews respond, because the community views ambulances bearing the squad name as part of its identity.
Board direction: Supervisors asked county staff to bring a formal update from Public Safety Director Fowler (or the appropriate department) explaining current staffing levels, how career and volunteer resources are allocated across stations, and a plan for addressing multi‑day coverage gaps. Supervisors said they expect a report at the next meeting or a written briefing delivered in advance so elected officials can be prepared to respond to constituents.
Why it matters: Delays in EMS responses are immediate public‑safety concerns for rural residents who rely on geographically distributed rescue squads. The Board did not vote on policy changes at the meeting but asked for additional information and for staff to review the allocation of career crews across the county’s ambulance stations.
Ending: Supervisors praised specific deputies and staff who have assisted on medical responses and said they would press Public Safety for both short‑term fixes and longer‑term staffing solutions tied to recruitment and retention.
