The NewsLeader has a in-depth article about the recent changes over at the Yancey Volunteer Fire department were it was recently reported would now be under control of the Augusta County government control. This article goes into the changes that have occurred over the years and how this community has gone away from citizens stepping up and becoming part of the "volunteer" staff to serve their community.
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Good information and interesting reading. Only hoped that the NewsLeader would have done a article like this back during the recent Board of Supervisors campaign\election were this issue was used as a campaign issue by one of the candidates and it would have been obvious that it was only being used as a "Campaign Issue".....
In the late 1970s, there was no Emerald Hills, no Teaverton, no sprawling suburban-like development, recalled native Larry Swisher.
In the late 1970s, there was no Emerald Hills, no Teaverton, no sprawling suburban-like development, recalled native Larry Swisher.
"Fishersville was a little crossroads community," Swisher said. "Everybody knew everybody because they were related, or they were friends and went to school together. There was a strong sense of community."
Back then, momentum for the idea gathered quickly, and the community of friends and relatives made it happen: The Preston L. Yancey Volunteer Fire Company sprouted from all the talk and fundraising, and volunteers took turns listening out for emergencies to answer calls.
In what eventually became an unfortunate, but increasingly typical paradox being played out around the country, Fishersville grew, but fewer people were willing fill volunteer ranks to fight fires. Now, years of unreliable volunteer fire coverage has forced the department to fold into Augusta County control.
A vital community service that had been provided through civic spirit and charitable donations is now offered by paid professionals who are part of a growing portion of the county's regular expenses.
The population of 9,000 mostly newcomers in the high-growth area is hardly close-knit.
Civic involvement in Fishersville didn't keep pace with the population boom. Despite all Yancey members' recruiting efforts, the company found itself in recent years trying to cover emergency calls in the area with 15 to 20 volunteers, about half of whom are active regulars, Swisher said.
Nearly two years ago, the Insurance Service Office, a subsidiary of New Jersey-based Versick Analytics, whose analysis is used by companies to set premiums for property owners, gave Preston Yancey a 10 rating for fire protection. It is the lowest possible score a fire department can receive — given to areas with no fire departments serving them.
Since then, inadequate volunteer staffing — a longtime problem — continued to plague the company, which serves the fastest growing community in Augusta County since 2000.
Volunteer issues, however, are not limited to just Preston Yancey.
"People now, they would rather sit at home and pay somebody else to do the job that they used to be willing to get out and do on their own," Swisher said.
Its been somewhat of a perfect storm the past ten years. Those individuals who are crass enough and cynical enough to create campaign issues out of division and apathy arrived within the last 15 years at the same time that the local media started to really go downhill. I doubt that the NewsLeader of 20 or 30 years ago would have let itself be used the way it has been in the past few years. At least though this article was fair and acknowledged the real issue, even if belatedly. This was a failure of the citizens in the Wayne district to adequately staff their volunteer Fire Company in Fishersville. It was NOT a failure of the Board of Supervisors (and by logical extension, the rest of the County's citizens). I'm afraid the last and current board is setting a bad precedent by bailing out Fishersville. Would anyone fault any other fire company looking at things as they stand and asking why they continue to put forth the effort? At this point, local community pride may be the only thing holding many of these companies together because the Board has shown an unwillingness to confront communities not carrying their burden.
ReplyDelete"Watch"
ReplyDeleteGood points and Trice & Zinn did well with this article....
Unfortunately the several who used it as a campaign issue might feel beholden to the one that made it his major campaign issue...
Let's hope they see it for what it is ....
If it was not for Dr. Mike this "campaign issue" would have never been known and nothing would have happened. The board of supervisors were ignoring the condition at Yancy firehouse and we should have elected Dr.ike to fix the problems.
ReplyDeleteWould have never been known?
ReplyDeleteThere were plenty of people out there in Wayne district that had their insurance rates raised and would have made it known.....
Kat,
ReplyDeleteWhere was Dr Mike when volunteers were needed? What specific solutions did he ask for from the Board? Did Dr. Mike ever rally the local HOAs to meet with the Fire Company Officials to see what they needed or did he simply desire to have the county taxpayer's bail them out of their own apathy? Has Dr Mike ever supported Yancy with donations of time or money? These are all important things in determining how and where political accolades are to be bestowed. I'd give more credit to the poorest person in that district to donate anything toward fire protection then to any self-aggrandising politician.
"Dr.Mike" made it a campaign issue and fortunately people learned the real issue and saw his actions for what they were and elected Moore...
ReplyDeleteThe issue now is how does this effect the rest of the county now that Yancey is a full paid staff? What about the communities were volunteers still make up a large part of the First aid & Fire staffs? Here citizens have stepped up to the plate to serve their community in many different ways from volunteering on squads, fund raising, Aux teams, etc. resulting in smaller "Paid" staffs and savings to the county. Are these communities then missing out on "govt money" like Wayne district just got at Yancey?