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September Fire and EMS Calls In Houston County Outside The City of Dothan

Rickey Stokes

Viewed: 2890

Posted by: RStokes
[email protected]
3347901729
Date: Oct 13 2019 3:59 AM

HOUSTON COUNTY:    During the month of September 2019, Houston County Volunteer Fire and EMS responded to 691 fire and EMS calls.


These calls were outside the corporate city limits of Dothan and in Houston County.


These calls were of all descriptions, from minor to major. The last two Saturday nights in Houston County I personally have had the unfortunate experience to be on the scene of motor vehicle accidents where people have lost their lives. 


The men and women who work in emergency services undergo a tremendous amount of stress. They encounter many types of calls each and every day.


Recently in Covington County a lady working on the EMS responded to a motor vehicle accident and her grandaughter was involved in the accident. I am told you could hear the panic in the grandmother's voice. You see, you never know "who" is in the accident when you respond.


I know of one case in Dothan where a Dothan Firemedic responded to a motor vehicle accident to find his brother whose life was claimed in the accident.


The responders across Houston County are made up as follows: 


Fire as part of the municipality - Columbia Fire, Ashford Fire, Cottonwood Fire and Cowarts Fire. These departments receive the majority of their funding if not all of their funding from the tobacco tax and $ 35 fire fee on homeowners. The municipality might place some money into the departments but not a lot. 


Fire not a part of a municipality - Webb Fire, Kinsey Fire, Gordon Fire, Pansey Fire, Lucy Fire, Lovetown Fire, Hodgesville Fire, Madrid Fire, Southern Junction Fire, Taylor Fire, Bay Springs Fire, Wicksburg Fire. These departments receive the tobacco tax money and $ 35 fire fee. Other money is from fund raisers.


Fire and EMS not a part of municipality but the municipality helps prop them up when short in funding - Rehobeth Fire and EMS.


EMS not a part of a municipality and strictly 501 ( c ) ( 3 ) non profit entity - Ashford EMS, Cottonwood EMS, Wicksburg EMS. The Town of Cottonwood pays the water bill for Cottonwood EMS.


EMS not a part of a municipality, a 501 ( c ) ( 3 ) but municipality props them up when short in funding -  Columbia EMS.


Responds to Kinsey EMS calls -  Headland EMS which is a Headland funded service. But Kinsey Fire is primary backup to Headland Fire.


EMS has a territory in Houston County and at times covers areas in Houston County -  Pilcher Ambulance has an assigned territory in Houston County. Pilcher has served as a backup to the EMS in Houston County in past years.


EMS FUNDING - Houston County Commission provides $ 26,000.00 annually to the 5 EMS units in Houston County. This is paid in quarterly installments throughout the year. This amount barely covers the insurance required for the EMS units. Other than that funding the EMS 501 ( c ) ( 3 ) has to collect on EMS calls, do fund raisers or any transports in order to survive.


HOUSTON COUNTY EMS ASSOCIATION -  The 5 Houston County EMS services that are 501 ( c ) ( 3 ) and Headland EMS have signed an agreement to backup each other when needed. There are some obstacles but EMS Association initiated meetings have been held and solutions discussed concerning coverage in the county.


No way the Houston County Commission could fund what would be needed to operate fire and EMS across this county without the help of the men and women who volunteer to help. Today some of the EMS personnel are a mixture of paid and volunteer. But not just anyone can drive the ambulance without certain certifications or be a EMT without certain credentials which require school.


Dothan - Houston County Emergency Management Director Chris Judah is in his second year as President of the Houston County Volunteer Fire Chief Association. In some counties Emergency Management are "resources" only. The Dothan - Houston County Emergency Management is a "resource" and a "responder".


The Dothan - Houston County Emergency Management Office will be on the scene to help with resources but will also be on the end of a fire hose fighting a fire right beside the men and women in this county who do it for free. EMA lets the Fire and EMS Chief run their scene but is there to help in whatever is needed to include but not limited to dressing in a fire suit and on the end of a fire hose or driving the ambulance if short handed.


As a TEAM, working to save lives and property.




September Fire and EMS Calls In Houston County Outside The City of Dothan

September Fire and EMS Calls In Houston County Outside The City of Dothan

Family First Funeral Home

September Fire and EMS Calls In Houston County Outside The City of Dothan

September Fire and EMS Calls In Houston County Outside The City of Dothan

September Fire and EMS Calls In Houston County Outside The City of Dothan

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