First Responders Explore Routing Calls

Out of the rack, suit on and truck ready to roll, but a second call has come in for the Summerville firefighters: County emergency medical services will handle the call.

This familiar story (as much as one-third of calls the town firefighters respond to) has been the status quou for 15 years.

Summerville Fire Chief Marc Melfi briefed the town council's public safety committee Wednesday at the on trying to reform the way first responders get calls.

The town currently takes all calls for residents dialing 9-1-1 and begins responding right away. However, the town does not provide medical services and instead relies on Charleston, Berkeley or Dorchester county. 

If a call comes in that only needs EMS, town firefighters still respond until the call is canceled, letting them know EMS is handling it. 

Melfi suggested two new strategies to end rustling the firefighters unnecessarily, which could save the town money. Both would have "a little delay" and require the county to filter the calls, Melfi said.

1. All calls requesting EMS will go to county first. If the need for firefighters or police is requested, then the call also is sent to the appropriate town service. 
2. County receives all calls first and then refers all town police and fire requests. Melfi called this approach "extremely difficult."

The committee did not take any action on this item, other than to request town first responders, such as Police Chief Bruce Owens and Melfi, start hashing out a plan of action.

According to Melfi, council approached him about trying to streamline the system, which is why he brought the information to the committee meeting. He said he expects more to come up at the next public safety committee meeting next month.