| County dedicates Buchanan ambulance, fire stations |
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By: By Lisa Marchesoni- July 8, 2008 - 3 PM
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Posted: Tuesday, July 8, 2008 3:09 pm
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Buchanan community residents should get faster response from paramedics and firefighters after a new ambulance station and fire headquarters were dedicated Tuesday on U.S. Highway 41 South.
The new Rutherford County Emergency Medical Services ambulance station and Southeast Rutherford Volunteer Fire Department station are located at 10808 Manchester Highway in front of the Epps Mill convenience center.
Both County Commissioners Gary Farley, who chairs the Public Safety Committee, and Joe Frank Jernigan, who represents the district, said the location should improve response times for residents who live in the Buchanan and Gum communities.
Response time more than 10 minutes is critical in a medical emergency, Farley said.
“We need to get the response time to five to six minutes,” Farley said.
Jernigan said before the ambulance station opened, some residents waited 18 to 20 minutes to get response from paramedics.
“That was always a big concern of mine because of safety,” Jernigan said.
Getting faster response is a dream come true for residents of his district, he said in crediting County Mayor Ernest Burgess and all 21 commissioners in supporting the new ambulance and fire stations.
“EMS and safety and volunteer firefighters need a good place to work,” Jernigan said. “I know people appreciate this facility.”
Burgess noted the site will serve both the ambulance and volunteer firefighters.
“Thank you for your support,” Burgess said.
EMS Director Mike Nunley thanked Burgess for approving the building and EMS construction manager Tommy Brown for handling the construction. He too expects response times to drop significantly to respond to emergency calls.
Paramedic Brian Gaither will manage the new station with most of the paramedics assigned there already residents of the community.
“The citizens of the area are in good hands,” Nunley said.
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