Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Emergency Management topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Emergency Management coordinator warns of volunteer firefighter fatigue, urges recruitment
Summary
Emergency Management Coordinator Lance Swindell told commissioners that the county's volunteer fire departments are strained after a busy two months and urged recruitment for operational and administrative volunteer roles; he noted volunteers need roughly 36 hours of certification each year.
Plymouth, N.C. ' Lance Swindell, Washington County's Emergency Management Coordinator, told the Board of Commissioners on Sept. 7, 2021 that local volunteer fire departments have faced a high volume of recent fires and that volunteers are growing weary.
Swindell said volunteers undertake significant time commitments and noted that certification and recertification require about 36 hours annually. He urged residents to consider volunteering in operational or support roles such as administrative functions that do not require entering fires.
Commissioners thanked local volunteer firefighters and the CERT team for their service. Commissioner Julius Walker told staff that Swindell's presentation answered his questions about mutual aid and coordination with surrounding counties.
Swindell's update did not include a specific recruitment plan or budget request; staff and commissioners discussed the need to identify strategies for recruitment and support in follow-up work.
