During the October 15 Community Meeting at the Beltsville Volunteer Fire House, Chief Micheal Adams informed the community that the request to purchase a new ambulance, from funds raised by the volunteers (meaning it would cost the county nothing) was denied because according to Chief Green’s office, there aren’t enough volunteers to man it.
Chief Adams said that at a meeting with fire chief and the volunteers service command where they offered to purchase a new ambulance but were denied but according to Chief Adams, all the volunteers at Beltsville have an emergency medical technicians card allowing them to staff the ambulance. However, there are several other stations in the county that have less staffing than Beltsville that have been allowed to purchase a second or third ambulance. Chief Adams seems to think there is no official rhyme nor reason while some houses are allowed to purchase, and others are not.
We were also updated on the status of the current volunteer ambulance that was involved in an accident several months ago. It is ready to go back into service but is unable to at this time because the equipment needed to go on the ambulance, which belongs to the Beltsville Volunteer Corporation, is currently sitting on the county owned ambulance according to Chief Adams. There have been mixed communications from the county. The varying reasons are that “the funding is limited through the county for the equipment and/or they don’t have the money for it or they’re trying to find the money for the equipment.”
According to Chief Adams “at the end of the day, we have the staffing here. There is no reason why we can’t have a second ambulance here to provide additional services for this side of the county.” At a time when career staffing and money seems to be in short supply, why won’t Chief Green and her team accept the help of the volunteers?
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