While much has been said about the challenges incurred by Fire and EMS departments due to Covid surges, hospital capacity issues, etc…just how have these and other factors influences operations at the FVFAC throughout 2021?
We saw huge increases in the number of calls for service in 2021. Our Fire/Rescue calls increased by 32% overall. This includes structure fires, motor vehicle accidents, fire alarm activations, assisting EMS, hazardous conditions, and other call types. The number of times our EMS units were dispatched increased an astounding 48% during 2021. This equates to a overall increase of 42.5% in call volume from 2020.
So many factors play into these increases that we cannot attribute the numbers to specific causes. Regional growth and development, Covid, hospital capacity, overall regional EMS staffing, societal changes, and other factors all account for the increases to some degree.
One thing is certain, the increased call volumes reflect the increased challenges faced by the VOLUNTEER system in Harford County and elsewhere throughout the Fire and EMS service. These challenges present themselves in the form of needed increases in staffing, training, equipment, and funding for FVFAC. Please consider this when you receive the Fund Drive requests in your mailbox in 2022, and PLEASE think about joining the FVFAC as a member to help us continue to help the Fallston community!!!
