Emergency response in Jefferson County, West Virginia is set to take a significant hit as the fire department and EMS confront hiring freezes and the brown-out of critical units, raising alarms about public safety during a time of fast-paced growth.
According to the Jefferson County Professional Firefighters IAFF Local 5351, the county administration has halted the hiring of emergency services personnel, citing budget concerns. This move has left key positions unfilled and is expected to decrease minimum daily staffing, including the loss of at least one ambulance on a regular basis.
Brown-outs — temporary closures of fire or EMS units due to staffing shortages — are now anticipated, which could directly lead to increased emergency response times. This is especially concerning given the county’s rapid expansion, with more housing developments and growing traffic congestion.
The union says that, in addition to reduced staffing, the county has slashed vital training programs for Fire and EMS personnel. Community outreach programs such as CPR and First Aid classes, as well as public safety education in schools and daycares, are also being scaled back.
Despite repeated requests from Fire Chief Sine to account for population growth in budget planning, the union claims the county forced a “flat budget” for the department and disregarded the increasing demands on emergency services.
“The county administration has done little to understand the needs of a Fire Department and what it means to offer emergency services to this community 24 hours a day, 7 days a week,” the union said. “Chief Sine has repeatedly made attempts to fight for the department, find creative solutions for staffing to best serve the community, but has been unable to make progress.”
The union is now calling on residents to contact county commissioners and demand investment in emergency services that match the pace of Jefferson County’s growth.
