HAGERSTOWN – With completion of its Emergency Medical Services’ employee transition agreement with Hancock Rescue Squad 59, the Washington County Division of Emergency Services will integrate firefighting specialists now paid by the Hancock Rescue Squad into the cadre of county rescue services staff.
This transition will improve emergency services in the Hancock and surrounding areas by adding eight new firefighters and fire apparatus operators to enable Squad 59 to maintain dedicated 24-hour staffing at the station.
“This transition, combined with additional staffing, will enhance fire and rescue capabilities, reduce response times, and improve safety for both residents and first responders in Hancock and surrounding areas,” said R. David Hays, director of Emergency Services, in announcing the complete agreement on Nov. 23.
These enhancements also help to address critical concerns raised by the Hancock Fire Department regarding delayed mutual aid response times and staffing challenges in the remote Hancock area. Squad 59 has been a combined career and volunteer-EMS/Rescue Station serving the western county since 1969.
This process is part of the county’s response to staffing issues which have dogged the DES, caused in part by a high attrition rate, Billy Woods, vice president the International Association of Fire Fighters Local 1605 union, told Washington County Commissioners last week.
“We’ve made significant progress, but I want to stress that much work remains to be done, especially with respect to staffing,” Woods said. “There are stations that have a single person on duty during the day, which is dangerous. We need the continued support of the county government.”
Officials said Hancock’s Rescue Squad plays a vital role in providing EMS, rescue and firefighting operations to the western county and acknowledged response times from mutual aid units often exceed 15 minutes, sometimes with understaffed units.
County spokesperson Danielle Weaver explained the initiative contributes to a sustainable staffing model by integrating career employees working in volunteer companies to a single employer will help fill staffing gaps at stations systemwide.
Stabilizing staffing for Rescue Squad 59 will ensure response capabilities and lay the groundwork for staffing a second ambulance, which the Squad already owns.
To help smooth the transition, officials have provided the station access to county resources, uniforms and email accounts for operational communication.
While the EMS transition employees will initially staff EMS transport units, emergency services officials also are actively recruiting and hiring to fill vacant positions for the fire and rescue staffing.
The DES leadership team is working in collaboration with the Hancock Rescue Squad Board of Directors and the Hancock EMS chief to formalize the staffing transition and to work on finalizing a staffing matrix for the rescue squad to help ensure operational readiness.
“We expect to be fully hired after the first of the year,” said Weaver, adding the new employees will first attend a firefighter Recruitment Academy before returning to Squad 59. “This will ensure the presence of two dedicated staff each day to the Squad’s Special Service Unit.”
Weaver said staffing issues vary from company to company, but many stations continue to struggle to consistently meet the minimum staff requirement of three trained and certified personnel per fire engine, and the county continues to seek creative solutions to the issues, such as the new agreement.
Hays said the emergency services department is grateful to Squad 59’s Board of Directors, and to the county commissioners for their ongoing support.
