Lack Of Funds Force Closure Of Rescue Unit
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EMS Impact
Spartanburg EMS takes over another district.Published: September 30, 2009
One of the oldest, and one of the busiest, rescue units in Spartanburg County is being forced to close, for lack of money. At a meeting of the Westview-Fairforest Fire Commission Tuesday evening, the decision to dissolve Rescue 3 was made. Rescue 3 handles calls for the Westview-Fairforest District, so anyone who lives in that area that has a medical emergency could be potentially affected. Rescue 3 serves an area that goes from roughly Old Anderson Mill Road at I-26, to I-85 and Falling Creek Road, then to US 29. Several thousand people live in the area.
Spartanburg EMS will take over the district. Jimmy Greene says he plans to station one ambulance in the Westview-Fairforest Fire District and to hire six new people.
He says response time will stay the same for residents in the area. “The citizens will really see no difference. There will just be a different ambulance instead of the Westview Fairforest ambulance,“ he said.
The district has only enough money to make payroll through the end of October. By November 1st, it could be the county’s responsibility to make arrangements for this area to be covered by EMS units from another area, but there are no definite plans right now on what will be done.
Six people were employed with Rescue 3, all will be rehired by the fire department.
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Reader Reactions
looks like no one is concerned about commenting on this i have 1 question that i think needs to be asked they say there out of payroll money for the ambulance but there going to put 6 of the employees under the fire dept that seems kinds funny dont it i think its garetts doing just wants the squad shut down lets look at this we cant pay yall to run the ambulance but we will pay you for running the fire truck hmmm the ambulance can bring money in the fire truck cant something not right here commisioners
no matter what reason there is with todays economy its bad all over but there is no need to sgut these trucks down im sure there would be enough people that will volunteer some time to help keep these units running it not the money its the public that needs to be looked after r-3 runs alot of calla more than ems will be able to make up for i myself as a medic as well as my fiance will be willing to to cover at least 2 12 hr shifts a week and i know a few more that would be willing to help so there is a way to keep this squad running without payroll if they want until funds can be raised so as i said there ni reason to shut down if they will let there brothers in the ems field help all they have to do is ask and let us do it
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