HAGERSTOWN, MD (October 8, 2024) – The Washington County Division of Emergency Services (DES) is pleased to announce the approval of the employee transition MOU with the Hancock Rescue Squad 59. This approval authorizes DES to transition the current EMS employees of the Hancock Rescue Squad into County employment, and to hire eight (8) Firefighters/Fire Apparatus Operators to allow dedicated staffing for Hancock Rescue Squad 59.
The Hancock Rescue Squad unit plays a critical role in EMS, rescue and firefighting operations in the remote Hancock area. Concerns over delayed mutual aid response times were raised by the Hancock Fire Department in the Spring of 2024, noting that mutual aid assistance from nearby departments is often 15-20 minutes or more before arriving on the scene, with a some of these units arriving understaffed.
In response, the DES has worked to enhance rescue and firefighting capabilities by transitioning the EMS employees into county employment, and by adding dedicated 24-hour staffing for Rescue Squad 59. This move will not only improve response times, but it will also improve staffing options for the staffing of a second ambulance owned by Hancock Rescue Squad.
“We are grateful for the continued support from the Board of County Commissioners,” said R. David Hays, Director of Emergency Services. “These new positions will significantly enhance our fire and rescue capabilities and improve the safety of our firefighters in Hancock and the surrounding areas. The addition of this staffing will help ensure a more robust and efficient response to emergencies in the remote areas of Western Washington County.”
For additional information, please contact Washington County’s Public Relations & Marketing Department at [email protected].
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