There is a saying that the Fire Service hates two things; ‘the way things are’ and ‘change.’ So being a Change Agent in this industry has definitely been challenging!
Gannon is a US and global team that has worked on projects in over 40 countries worldwide and brings a unique collection of experience and best practice to localities looking to assess or improve their Fire & EMS services.
Like many localities across Virginia, Pulaski County faced challenges with a shrinking pool of aging volunteers, rising 911 calls, and increasing equipment costs.
The County selected Gannon to conduct a study and we were retained to implement recommendations.
A complete restructure has transformed the system, reduced response times, and right sized operations to support and stabilize volunteer departments. Importantly, the changes have been made without any tax increase and have actually saved the county money on its previous annual Fire/EMS spend.
Two studies have been conducted to look at the statewide situation: HB2175 and a follow up by VCU. Both conclude with recommendations for increased state funding, particularly in rural localities, but neither report questions why despite fires and rescues being very similar, the way they are managed and funded varies so widely across the commonwealth?
Many agencies are still organized along lines when volunteers were plentiful and the majority of 911 calls were for fire, not EMS as they are today. Pulaski benefitted from having a contracted partner to take a holistic view of their system and strategically implement change, allowing uniformed staff to focus on their day-to-day operations.
The county has recently won multiple regional awards including ‘Outstanding EMS Agency of the Year’ and many localities are visiting to see the new Fire and EMS model firsthand.
Success shows that sharing best global practice and introducing some new ideas can improve situations, the lives of first responders, and the communities they serve.
Contact us for more information
Chris Gannon | 772.361.9175
www.gannonemergencyusa.com | chris@gannonemergency.com