For the second time in a decade, Amherst County officials are pursuing a study of the county’s fire and emergency medical services through the Virginia Fire Services Board.
The Amherst County Board of Supervisors unanimously voted Aug. 2 to approve the request from the county’s Emergency Services Council to conduct the study. A previous study on fire and EMS delivery in Amherst County was done in 2013 and the council feels a new one is necessary.
“Senior leadership of the organizations realize there are only a few members to answer calls and there is a struggle to cover the calls and all the other administrative duties,” a staff report to the board of supervisors states. “The ESC and local fire companies are looking for input on sustainability, retention, and recruitment. Providing the required services in the current environment is not sustainable in the long term.”