North Summit Fire moves to combination staffing model; county hires consultant to assess EMS system

The North Summit Fire chief updated the COG on staffing and operational changes after a locally approved tax increase: the department is transitioning from volunteer status to a combination/full‑time model, has started hiring six firefighters and is testing candidates for captain positions. The chief said members will work a 48/96 schedule and that several firefighters will be station‑based so staff can reduce response times.

Importantly, the district upgraded its medical qualification from EMR to AEMT, allowing firefighters to perform a broader set of advanced life‑saving tasks (short of ambulance transport); the chief and council members said that change has already reduced response times on some calls. The department also signed mutual‑aid memoranda of understanding with Morgan Fire and has taken steps to cover neighboring areas while bridge repairs and other local disruptions continue.

On broader emergency medical services, Jana Ryan reviewed a multi‑year effort that began in 2019–2020 to evaluate the county’s EMS system. The county retained Safetec Solutions, which completed about 73 in‑person interviews, three public listening sessions and financial and call‑volume analyses. Safetec plans to deliver preliminary findings in late February or early March and a final report in May, including recommendations on governance, operations and financing.

Council members discussed staffing, apparatus condition and local recruitment; the chief said only two of seven recent applicants are local and that firefighters will live at the station to ensure coverage. Jana stressed that the consultant’s findings will guide decisions on governance and financing and that the county will follow a stakeholder review process before public presentations.