First responders in Augusta County are working with county officials to come up with an insurance plan that offers better coverage for volunteer firefighters.
Volunteer and career firefighters are held to the same standards of training and certifications but do not receive the same coverage if they are hurt or fall ill on the job. Full time firefighters are fully covered, but volunteers are only covered up to $100,000.
The first phase of choosing a new plan is to layout official job descriptions for volunteer companies. The hope is to have a recommendation for the Augusta County Board of Supervisors for the budget process of Fiscal Year 2021.
With an average of 16,000 emergency calls per year in Augusta County, the risk first responders face is high.
"Most challenging job I've ever had, but I'll tell you, it really, truly is the most rewarding as well," former Swoope Fire Chief Kevin Wilkes said.