The Logan County Chamber of Commerce held its monthly Legislative Impact meeting Tuesday morning, where a panel of Fire and EMS professionals gathered to discuss the pressing challenges facing their industries.
The panel, led by Ben Vollrath, President of the Logan County Chamber of Commerce, featured local fire and emergency medical services (EMS) leaders from across the region, including Bellefontaine Fire Captain Brian Wilson, Indian Joint Fire’s Mark Gibson, West Liberty Fire Chief Darin Leach, Tri-Valley Fire’s Seth Chambers and Chief Davis, and Josh Strayer from Indian Lake EMS.
The panelists offered insight into the difficulties their departments are currently facing, particularly in the areas of staffing and volunteer retention. According to the group, mutual aid between departments has always been a cornerstone of their operations, with agencies working together to assist one another during emergencies. However, staffing continues to be a significant issue.
A key point of discussion centered around the shortage of volunteers, with many fire and EMS personnel working full-time jobs outside the area. This leaves little time to dedicate to volunteer work, which is the backbone of many local departments. While some departments have paid staff, the majority of responders are volunteers. The costs and time commitment required for the necessary certifications and ongoing training also pose substantial barriers for potential new recruits.
Another challenge raised was the issue of burnout. Many individuals work multiple shifts across several stations, which increases the risk of fatigue and stress. Loyalty to local departments is also a concern, as neighboring counties and municipalities often offer higher pay and better benefits, leading some responders to leave for more lucrative opportunities.
The panel also emphasized the need for more cohesive collaboration across the region. Fire and EMS professionals expressed the importance of working together as a unified unit, with standardized protocols and improved communication between agencies. Strengthening these partnerships, they noted, could help improve efficiency and service delivery while alleviating some of the pressures on individual departments.
In conclusion, the meeting underscored the need for greater community support and state-level attention to these challenges.
Stay tuned here on peakofohio.com and 98.3 WPKO in the coming weeks as we will take a deeper dive into this topic on Listen Up! to learn more about what the community can do to support these critically needed services in our county.
