Volunteer shortages means severe consequences for the Plainville Fire District.
At their Feb. 11 meeting, Plainville Fire District Commissioners (PFDC) met with Tony DiGregorio, director of Emergency Medical Bureau, and David Weller, director of Greater Baldwinsville Ambulance Corp. (GBAC) to discuss ambulance coverage for Plainville residents.
According to Don Power, chairman of the PFDC, Plainville is considering abolishing the ambulance due to a lack of qualified volunteers available to staff it.
“Jordan [Fire Department and Ambulance] and GBAC are covering our district now for all advanced life support needs. We will continue to assist Jordan and GBAC with EMTs and our rescue vehicle,” he said, adding most of the district’s ambulance equipment will be carried on Plainville’s rescue vehicle.
Power said while basic life support will still be provided through the Plainville Fire Department, the facility’s ambulance will be sold. Residents won’t see any change in service.
“Service will remain the same,” Power said. “We are consolidating, if you will.”
Plainville is also looking at closing Station No. 2 in Jack’s reef due to a lack of personnel to maintain and operate equipment, as well as a lack of volunteers to provide adequate protection. The PFDC will hold a public workshop at 7 p.m. March 11 at the Jack’s Reef station to discuss this matter and future operations.
Two other workshops are scheduled in March including a March 18 meeting to further discuss and review standard operating procedures and a March 25 meeting. Both meetings will be held at 7 p.m. at Station No. 1 in Plainville.
The Plainville Fire District Commissioners plan to sell the department’s ambulance as there are not enough volunteers within the department to staff the vehicle. Instead, the department will provide advanced life support services with the assistance of the Greater Baldwinsville Ambulance Corp. and the Jordan Fire Department and Ambulance. Residents will see no change in services, only those providing it.
