Published: January 28, 2008 11:53 am      

Statewide communications system won't take away Hampshire fire unit's ability to talk with Virginia companies

ROMNEY - Some Capon Bridge volunteer firefighters are concerned that the county's move toward a statewide emergency communications system may leave them unable to talk to companies in Virginia on whom they rely for assistance during emergencies.

Hampshire County Commissioners Robert Hott and Steve Slonaker attended the Capon Bridge Volunteer Fire Department banquet recently where they discussed the continuing relationship with emergency services in Gore and Frederick County, Va.

"They're only a mile from the state line and Gore responds to many of their calls," said Hott.

County Office of Emergency Services Director Michael Crouse attended Tuesday's county commission meeting to explain that the company will not lose its ability to communicate with Virginia responders.

Slonaker said the firefighters are concerned that when the new system is in place they will have to go through a complicated set of transfers and relays in order to be able to talk to the Virginia companies.

Crouse said the new equipment will have a channel the users can change to talk to Virginia providers and they can also keep their high-band radios operational until 2013. "That's when we will have to be using all low-band frequencies," he said, adding that even then only their oldest high-band radios, those purchased before 1994, will have to be replaced.

"But any cost will be five years away," he said, noting by that time, there will likely be funding available to offset some of the cost.

"They will actually have several options," Crouse said, adding that other areas in the county, such as North River, depend on adjacent counties or states for support on emergency calls.

"I think some of the companies want just one radio," he said. "Most of them now have two, one with high-band frequencies and the other with low-band, in order to work with people outside the county."

Crouse said the Virginia and West Virginia systems will not be directly compatible but they will still be interfaced.

"But that was the states' choice and we can't do anything about that," he said.

Slonaker said Gore has a paramedic in its company that Capon Bridge, Capon Springs and other areas along the Frederick County border rely heavily on to respond in emergencies. "I'm surprised they do it," he said, noting the Virginia company and others have always been very responsive.

Hott suggested Crouse meet with the firefighters face to face to answer any of their concerns related to the communications change.

"I thought it had been explained," Crouse said, adding he would be happy to talk to Capon Bridge or other fire departments that have concerns. "I think they might have wanted the county to fund a new high-band system."

Commissioner Don Cookman said they would not be able to do that.

"We just need to make sure they understand," said Slonaker.

Crouse said the state is providing more opportunities for the state system to expand into other counties as part of its focus on interoperability, that is, a system completely compatible in all the counties.

Contact Mona Ridder at mridder@times-news.com.