Orleans will study options for providing EMS/fire service in county

Legislature hires consultant to help present alternatives to public

Photos by Tom Rivers: The Murray Joint Fire District – led by in front from left, Pete Hendrickson, Rick Cary and Kevin Dann – march in the Kendall Firemen’s Carnival parade on June 26. In 2021, the Murray Joint Fire District combined the Holley and Fancher-Hulberton-Murray districts.

ALBION – Orleans County has hired a consultant to assist local officials in looking at several options for providing EMS and fire service in the county.

Municipal Resource Inc. (MRI) of Plymouth, NH will work with the Orleans County Emergency Management Agency on a study looking at options to improve EMS and the fire service in the short and long term in the county.

MRI will be paid $71,807 for its work, with half of that coming from a state Local Government Efficiency grant. The other half will come out of Emergency Management’s budget.

Justin Niederhofer, the county’s emergency management director, said MRI will work with local officials from villages, towns, the fire departments and EMS providers. The study will look at options ranging from the current nearly all-volunteer fire service to having paid firefighters in all three battalions.

The Village of Medina is currently the only department with paid staff and they respond to fires and handle the EMS calls on the western end of the county.

Many of the fire companies and departments are short-staffed especially with responses during the work hours.

Niederhofer said there will be opportunities for public inut as the study moves forward in the coming months.

A long line of fire trucks participated in the Kendall parade on June 26, including a group from the Carlton Volunteer Fire Company.