CHAMPION — Fire and township officials gathered Friday morning to review ways to bill neighboring communities for emergency medical service mutual aid calls since many departments are facing staffing shortages.

Twenty officials, including several fire chiefs, gathered at Champion Township hall for more than an hour Friday to discuss bringing officials from other counties and agencies to hear how they handle mutual aid EMS calls when many fire departments are short-staffed.

An initial meeting on EMS billing in January was followed by Champion officials announcing plans to begin billing other townships $750 per call for EMS mutual aid. Champion Trustee Chairman Doug Emerine said they wanted to hear from and get input from other townships on how they feel about the billing.

Warren Township Trustee Ed Anthony said he would like to see a standard EMS billing rate for all townships, but said $750 was too high for his township to pay for assistance.

“Mutual aid for fire has never been an issue because everyone helps each other. The EMS is a whole different matter. All fire departments are facing a low pool of personnel. This is a countywide and statewide problem. We need to find ways so that all townships will benefit from mutual aid for EMS,” Anthony said.

He said the $750 is not possible for Warren Township to pay, but something less, such as $250-$300, would be possible.

He said Champion, Lordstown and Newton Falls are full-time departments, but he understands they face the same staffing issues as volunteer and part-time fire departments such as Warren Township.

“The days of having volunteers for the fire department are gone. Many people do not want to be a fireman, EMS or police officer like they used to,” Anthony said.

He said Warren Township is only able to provide about 60% coverage of shifts at the fire station.

Anthony said he would like to see the same standard billing rate for EMS mutual aid to neighboring communities.

Bristol fire Chief Steve Craiger said the fire department is unable to get enough staff to cover shifts, and agreed that $750 is too high for Bristol to pay. He feels mutual aid for EMS is like mutual aid for fire calls.

Emerine said while Champion wants to be “a good neighbor and help other communities,” its priority is to protect and provide service to the taxpayers of Champion, who he said have called him, questioning why ambulances are in other townships such as Bristol and Warren.

He questioned why other townships aren’t asking their residents to support EMS levies on the ballot.

“Other townships need to ask their residents to support levies for their budgets,” he said.

He said the Champion firefighters are working very hard with limited staffing at the department and can’t always provide EMS mutual aid to other communities, but if the need is there, Champion will charge the $750 per call for the service.

“This is not about money for Champion Township. This is about our personnel. Our priority has to be protecting and serving the residents of Champion. Too often, other townships that are also short-staffed are relying more and more on Champion to be their first responders,” Emermine said.

He said mutual aid for fire calls is one thing, but EMS mutual aid is totally different.

“We want Champion to be serving our residents who are paying for their services and not be an outside countywide ambulance service for other townships. We need to be here in Champion 99% of the time,” Emerine said.

He said there is also a lot of wear and tear on ambulances and other rescue vehicles from continually going to other communities.

Anthony said Warren Township residents have supported levies, but the amount raised by levies in Champion at the same millage is less than Warren Township because there is a lower population.

NEW IDEAS

Emerine said Champion officials are looking at having paramedics on staff who will only respond to EMS calls, and not fires.

Newton Falls Joint Fire District Chief Jim Williamson said the department and many others help pay for schooling for firefighters and EMTs, with the stipulation that person agrees to provide two to five years of service, depending on the department, to that fire department.

Other chiefs said they do that, and if someone does not work for the fire department, they are to repay the cost for schooling.

Emerine said the problem is no one is applying for positions when they hear what training and costs are involved. The group plans to meet again at 11 a.m. June 2 in Champion and are seeing if fire representatives from Mahoning, Ashtabula, Geauga and Portage counties can attend to tell how they handle EMS mutual aid and billing of other communities.

Williamson said the Fire Chiefs Association also can be asked to attend and provide their perspective and suggestions.

COUNTYWIDE DEPARTMENT

Braceville fire Chief Todd Garland suggested a countywide fire department, but it would take a long time to get into place. He said such departments work in other states such as Florida.

Anthony said consolidation to a countywide department is an idea, but others at the meeting said that also would face a staffing problem.

“Everyone is okay with equipment. The problem is staffing everywhere,” Emerine said.

Officials said they want to also hear from county commissioners and state representatives on what they can do to address the issue.

“This needs to be addressed at the county and state levels,” Garland said.

CALLS UP

Champion fire Chief Tom Dempsey said all fire departments are seeing an increase in call volume while facing staffing shortages.

He said when the Mercy Health emergency center opens in Champion, there will be an increase as well.

Several officials said calls made for EMS often are not truly for EMS transport to the hospital.

Williamson said decisions need to be made by fire officials on what calls do not require a transport to a hospital where crews can often be tied up for several hours.

Warren Township fire Chief Joseph Natali said the delays at the hospital have gotten longer and longer, requiring staff to be away from the fire station. He said when he makes a decision on whether to transport and decides it is not needed, residents will complain to trustees.

Anthony said he often listens to fire chiefs about the call decision, often agreeing the situation did not warrant transport to hospital.