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Board advances EMS expansion to Bracey, approves Chapter 34 changes and accepts firefighter PPE grant
Summary
The Board endorsed Emergency Services Committee recommendations to advertise Chapter 34 revisions, supported an EMS expansion plan to Bracey that includes temporary housing with Lake Gaston Fire Department, and approved acceptance of a $100,000 PPE grant to buy turnout gear for volunteer fire departments.
Emergency Services Committee Chair Andy Hargrove reported committee action February 9 recommending revisions to Chapter 34 of the County Code and authorizing staff to advertise a public hearing. The committee also reviewed a countywide EMS needs assessment.
Justin Burch, Director of Emergency Services, described the assessment’s findings and the planned expansion of EMS capacity in the Bracey area. He said the county met with Lake Gaston Fire Department about temporarily housing an ambulance crew, that the Bracey-area presence will be permanent, and that the department will offer a free EMT class this spring for citizens. The Board voted unanimously to approve changes to Chapter 34 and to authorize staff to advertise a public hearing at the March meeting.
On grants, the Board unanimously accepted a $100,000 Personal Protective Equipment award from the Virginia Department of Fire Programs to purchase turnout gear for volunteer fire departments (three sets per department), and authorized the Director of Emergency Services to distribute the equipment in accordance with each department’s share.
