BFD donated to MPVFD

FROM LEFT: Blountstown City Councilwoman Mert Stephens, Mayor Tony Shoemake, Councilman Bill Gaskin, Councilwoman Shelia Blackburn, Calhoun EMS Chief Jake Shuler, Blountstown Fire Chief Ben Hall, Councilman Clifford Jackson, Mossy Pond Fire Chief Dominic Rhodes, Mossy Pond Assistant Chief Terry Bohannen and Calhoun County Commissioner Darryl O’Bryan.

Blountstown Fire Department donates SUV

to Mossy Pond Volunteer Fire Department

http://www.cljnews.com

Thanks to a grant provided by the Calhoun County Board of County Commissioners and the cooperation and generosity of the Blountstown City Council, not one, but TWO local fire departments received a quick response SUV.

In January the BOCC awarded grants to each of the 9 Calhoun County Fire Departments to be used for operational improvements. Blountstown Fire Department utilized the funds to purchase a Dodge Durango Quick Response Vehicle (QRV). This left their previous QRV available for surplus.

Thanks to the

Mossy Pond’s Chevy Trailblazer, BFD’s Dodge Durango and Calhoun EMS’s Ford Explorer. All QRVs, in service to provide the fastest medical care possible.

generosity of the City Council, that 2003 Chevrolet Trailblazer has been donated to Mossy Pond VFD to be used as a medical response and command unit.

“Many don’t realize that once your fire crew makes contact with a patient, they can’t be left until someone with additional medical training, such as an EMS crew arrives.” said BFD Chief Ben Hall. “If we roll an engine crew to an EMS call, make patient contact, then that engine crew is obligated to stay until the ambulance arrives. Even if a fire call comes in. These QRVs allow a fire engine or brush truck to stay available for any call that might come in!”.

According to Fire Chief Dominic Rhodes, Mossy Pond VFD averages more than 350 calls for service per year, many of which are EMS First Response calls. Calhoun-Liberty Hospital EMS Chief Jake Shuler stepped up to provide a loaded medical supply bag to be carried in Mossy Pond VFD’s Trailblazer. “Mossy Pond’s First Responders are our eyes and ears in the field and they do a tremendous job with patient care while our EMS crews are en route” said Chief Shuler.

BFD’s Dodge Durango was placed into service earlier this month and Chief Rhodes from Mossy Pond VFD hopes to have their Trailblazer in service soon.