CAN’T LET THE DUST SETTLE
Governor Jim Pillen conducted the first ever Volunteer First Responders Summit on Aug. 19 in Broken Bow. The Summit, organized by Fire Marshal Scott Cordes, got underway early Saturday morning and concluded after 3:30 that afternoon. The Summit, attended by over 45 invited individuals, which included Senator Mike McDonnell (Omaha), dissected, discussed, probed, and brain-stormed two vital emergency response functions performed by volunteer first responders. The two -- wildfires and rural EMS.
The day was bisected evenly between the two topics as the professionals in the two areas shared their experiences, knowledge, and suggestions in moving Nebraska forward. Tough, really tough conversations, focusing on how volunteer first responders continue to protect lives and property given the current circumstances. Circumstances of longer, dryer conditions, resulting in more frequent wildfires in the northwest and north central parts of Nebraska, but also in areas of the state that previously had not experienced the roaring fires tearing through thousands of acres. Circumstances of more and more EMS calls, which in many parts of the state, are being responded to by fewer and fewer volunteers.
Those in attendance learned that in some parts of the state, volunteers have formed or are in the process of forming wildfire strike teams. Strike teams of volunteer firefighters are equipped with wildfire personal protection equipment, trucks, and radios. Representatives of the strike teams described how they have set up standard operating procedures to assist other areas of the state. They explained the number of times they have left their communities to assist in areas outside of their own mutual aid districts. They serve as volunteers in their own community and then, at times, pack up and head out long distance to some other parts of the state.
Those in attendance also learned that some areas of the state have moved to paid EMS to replace or supplement volunteer EMTs. In some parts of the state earlier this year, a private emergency medical service put several communities on notice that it was terminating its services -- a business decision, but impactful on the communities that had come to rely on the entity. Yet, in other areas of the state, the depletion of volunteer EMTs has severely crippled the communities and has continued to leave the remaining EMTs in these communities with the burdensome pressure to try to somehow cope with the, at times, overwhelming task of making sure -- someone always answers the call.
One of the items observed during the EMS segment of the day, and repeated by many in attendance, is the lack of ownership/jurisdiction over volunteer EMS in Nebraska. Not too long ago, the NSVFA requested a senator to introduce legislation which would have made each county in Nebraska responsible in providing emergency medical services in the county. The legislation was introduced, but not passed into law. Thus, the issue remains, volunteers, in many parts of Nebraska, are the sole reason Nebraskans’ lives are being protected by EMTs. One might see it as a tremendous amount of passion and compassion; fortitude and drive; determination and gusto, but these communities may be getting ever so close to -- no one answering the call.
So, we must not let the dust settle from the Summit. Moving forward will be challenging, but the belief is that the spirit of volunteer first responders will keep pushing forward.
Thank you again to Governor Pillen for conducting the Summit. Also, thanks to Senator McDonnell for spending the entire day with the group. Without a doubt, volunteer first responders will continue to look to Governor Pillen and Senator McDonnell to help lead the effort because Nebraskans must never know the answer to -- What if no one answers the call?
Jerry Stilmock,
Lobbyist