Commissioners hear EMS/fire merger recommendation

Published 2:29 pm Wednesday, June 21, 2017

THOMASVILLE — Emergency medical technicians training to become certified firefighters? Firefighters becoming certified emergency medical technicians?

“That’s your goal,” consultant Skip Starling told Thomas County commissioners at a Tuesday meeting. 

Starling, representing National Fire Services, said a merger of Thomas County Emergency Medical Service and Thomas County Fire/Rescue could result in operations for less money, with the same quality of services and possibly an expansion of services.

Services could be blended and the ISO (Insurance Services Office) rating improved, Starling said. The ISO rating is used in determining fire insurance rates.

Merging EMS and fire/rescue into one entity would expand capabilities of both, the consultant told commissioners.

Starling said 87 percent of all property owners are affected by the ISO rating, while 15 percent — or less — of residents are affected by EMS.

Privatizing EMS, he said, will not improve the ISO rating.

“If you put these services together, you will come up with a win-win situation for your community,” Starling said.

The consultant said a merger would:

• Reduce ambulance response times in the county.

• Increase billing collections.

• All new hires would be cross-trained in fire and EMS.

Merging services would increase staffing, which could improve the ISO rate up to 15 points on the staffing score.

If commissioners decide to merge the services, consolidation may require two months to accomplish.

Commissioners will consider the merger recommendation at a 5 p.m., Monday, July 17, meeting at the historic courthouse.

The committee’s recommendation will go to the full commission at a 6 p.m., Tuesday, July 25, board meeting.

Senior reporter Patti Dozier can be reached at (229) 226-2400, ext. 1820