Orange County NC Website
Browse       Search
18 <br /> 1 and then Carrboro. The Hillsborough responses have increased steadily due to the addition of <br /> 2 multiple medical and nursing facilities. EMS currently staffs six (6) 24-hour stations, with four (4) <br /> 3 of those stations co-locating, and two (2) 12-hour stations, with both of those stations co- <br /> 4 locating. It is important to note that with the exception of the Chapel Hill Fire Station in Glen <br /> 5 Lennox, also known as EMS Station 3, none of the current facilities were originally built or <br /> 6 intended to accommodate EMS operations, including the stand-along stations that house two of <br /> 7 the northern stations. Co-locations have allowed EMS to protect the ambulances and drugs in a <br /> 8 temperature controlled, enclosed and secure environment. <br /> 9 <br /> 10 Issue 2: How are the co-locations with the Fire Departments going? <br /> 11 <br /> 12 EMS is currently housing ambulances at the following colocations: <br /> 13 Medic 2 — Carrboro Fire Rescue Station 1 (S. Main Street) <br /> 14 Medic 3— Chapel Hill Fire Station 2 (Hamilton Road) <br /> 15 Medic 5— Eno Fire Station 2 (St. Mary's Road) <br /> 16 Medic 6 — Carrboro Fire Station 2 (Homestead Road) <br /> 17 Medic 7— New Hope Fire Station 2 (Hwy 86) <br /> 18 *Medic 9— Orange Grove Fire Station (Orange Grove Road) <br /> 19 <br /> 20 The co-locations are effective and advantageous for the communities and offer strategic <br /> 21 placement of equipment and personnel. The County's partnerships with each fire department <br /> 22 have strengthened, as the arrangement allows crews to routinely train with Fire Department <br /> 23 personnel. Chapel Hill Fire and Orange Grove Fire both advanced to EMT level fire <br /> 24 departments since the co locations. EMS is currently working with New Hope and Eno Fire to <br /> 25 also advance to the EMT level in the upcoming year. EMS has improved its geographic <br /> 26 knowledge in the service areas. These co-locations have also led to ambulances being housed <br /> 27 inside, which greatly improved medication temperature control as well as keeping ambulances <br /> 28 plugged into shorelines and preserving the ambulances. Ambulances were fitted with plymovent <br /> 29 adaptors in FY 2018-2019 for those stations with plymovent exhaust systems. <br /> 30 <br /> 31 The County has experienced space issues at the majority of the co-location stations already <br /> 32 established and designed for fire logistics and personnel. During weather events, EMS <br /> 33 recognizes that fire departments increase staffing that continues the challenge of providing <br /> 34 lodging for additional staff or relief staff for the following day. All of the County's co-locating <br /> 35 partners have been extremely gracious and accommodating in adjusting operations and the <br /> 36 living environment for EMS staff. Strategically, co-locations are placed in high demand areas <br /> 37 with the exception of two locations that have the lowest utilization system wide; however, EMS <br /> 38 is using these units to provide relief for the high demand stations, as well as provide visibility in <br /> 39 communities that have not commonly experienced EMS presence. <br /> 40 <br /> 41 Future Co- locations <br /> 42 Co-location with Orange Rural Fire Department <br /> 43 • Waterstone Fire/EMS Station: <br /> 44 . Entering design stage with Orange Rural Fire Department <br /> 45 • Strategically placed to respond to the heavy numbers of medical facilities and senior <br /> 46 housing in Hillsborough <br /> 47 • EMS stand-a-lone station in Efland <br /> 48 • Replaces the existing station <br /> 49 • Strategically placed to quickly access major roadways <br /> 50 • EMS stand a-lone Northern Cedar Grove <br />