The Smiths Station Fire & Rescue (SSFR) in Alabama suspended its ambulance transport operations indefinitely starting February 5 due to a lack of employees.
The entity claims that the Wuhan coronavirus (Covid-19) plandemic – or more likely the government's covid "vaccine" mandates – has created a "severe staffing crisis" with no end in sight.
"We are extremely disappointed that it has become necessary to suspend our emergency transport capabilities," announced SSFR Fire Chief Joe Walden.
"We started our ambulance service to fill a need and save lives and we have saved many lives. However, unfortunately, without additional funding and staff, we are unable to continue operations at this time. It is our sincere hope to restart as soon as possible."
SSFR says it is currently in partnership with East Alabama Medical Center's Emergency Transport System to try to minimize the impact of the canceled emergency service. (Related: New unelected "governor" of New York replacing unvaccinated health care workers with National Guard soldiers.)
"We have struggled to find enough personnel to staff our ambulance on a 24/7 basis for a number of months," said SSFR Deputy Chief Daniel Sexton.
"Another major issue for us has been funding. In addition to skyrocketing inflation affecting fuel, maintenance, and the medical supplies that are needed and required to operate an ambulance, we have been unable to offer basic employment benefits to our paramedics and EMTs, such as insurance, retirement [benefits] and competitive salaries."
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Officials say that SSFR will continue to hold and maintain an ALS non-transport license in order to continue offering as many lifesaving services to area residents as possible.
The next step is to develop and submit a plan to the Lee County Commission in an effort to obtain some kind of additional funding to restart emergency services as soon as possible.
That will be tough, unless the department ups its salary and benefits offerings to entice new talent, not to mention any remaining Fauci Flu restrictions that might be deterring potential employees from applying.
"This lack of basic benefits and below-average salaries along with the fact that private ambulance agencies in neighboring counties are offering as much as $10,000 signing bonuses has made it tough [to] retain and/or attract new employees from the finite number of EMTs and paramedics that are available in our area," Sexton said.
"It's very frustrating to watch the news or read the newspaper and see how literally millions of dollars are being allocated by the government to all kinds of projects that are not directly COVID-related, while front line first responders – the ones answering 911 calls – are struggling to survive financially," added Felton Atkinson, SSFR's board chairman, in a press release.
SSFR reportedly covers about 72 square miles of area that is home to some 35,000 people. It answers more than 2,000 emergency calls every single year both inside and outside the city limits of Smiths Station.
Concerned citizens are encouraged to contact their elected officials to request additional support for the community, as well as to "help bring back ambulance transport service, expand our fire protection and rescue services."
"If you have an emergency or heart attack, your response time is so long, the more damage that is going to be done," said one resident named Jerry Bourgeois.
"You have emergencies every day and they need that service down here," added another one named Jennifer Cox.
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