Update on Libby area volunteer fire services
by Duane Williams, KLCB-KTNY Radio
June 10, 2012
The fate of the Cabinet View Fire Service Area, and thus the fate of the Cabinet View Fire Department, is firmly in the hands of the Lincoln County Commissioners following Wednesday's two-hour public hearing.
Comments at the hearing came from property owners in the Fire Service Area, Bull Lake Fire Department, Marion Fire Department and others favoring the continuation of the fire service area, and from the Libby Volunteer Ambulance which opposes Cabinet View.
Many of the commenter's asked why the Commissioners would want to reduce available emergency services, and discourage volunteerism in the community by shutting down Cabinet View.
At the center of the controversy is Cabinet View's desire to use its EMTs as "first responders" within its jurisdiction, and that is what Libby Volunteer Ambulance does not want. In addition Libby Volunteer Fire Department says its Number Three Station on Whiskey Hill covers the Cabinet View area.
Cabinet View says it does not want to become an ambulance service in competition to Libby Ambulance, but wants to be dispatched as first responders to reduce the response time to get medical help to accidents and health issues in their coverage area until Libby Volunteer Ambulance can make the trip from Libby for transport to the hospital.
Libby Volunteer Ambulance blames their opposition on circumstances involving the Fisher River Fire Department initiating the formation of operation of an ambulance service in competition to Libby Volunteer Ambulance. Fisher River is even further from Libby than Cabinet View. Libby Volunteer Ambulance termed that situation an "open wound still not healed". Troy has an ambulance service as well.
Commission Chairman, Marianne Roose, said the Commissioners will announce their decision at next Wednesday's Commissioner's meeting.
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By Duane Williams, KLCB-KTNY Radio, www.todaysbestcountryonline.com e-mail: klcb@frontiernet.net.
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