By Heather Michon, Editor
Fluvanna County Volunteer Fire Department’s authority to provide emergency medical care was suspended on Sept. 11 by Operational Medical Director Dr. Brendan Byrne after repeated warnings over problems at the Palmyra Fire Company.
County Administrator Eric Dahl said Byrne acted because he found that Palmyra had failed to maintain an adequate response rate to dispatched EMS calls, provide a consistent and reliable quality-assurance and quality-improvement process, or appoint an EMS officer.
In his written notice, Byrne said Palmyra had “consistently and persistently” failed to meet those requirements despite “multiple verbal and written warnings.”
The suspension, imposed for up to 45 days, affects volunteer personnel at Palmyra, Kents Store, and Fork Union, as all three operate under Fluvanna County Volunteer Fire Department, Inc.
Lake Monticello Volunteer Fire & Rescue is a separate organization and is not included in the suspension.
The action does not revoke the department’s state agency license or suspend any individual EMT or paramedic certifications. It impacts only the department’s volunteer staff. Fluvanna provides ambulance service through paid county EMS personnel, and that service remains fully operational.
Byrne also said including Fork Union and Kents Store should not be construed as evidence of adverse performance, and both stations met their requirements.
Fire Chief Andrew Pullen said Byrne extended the suspension to the entire corporate department so the other two companies would help press for changes at Palmyra.
Pullen said he initially disagreed with including Fork Union and Kents Store but ultimately saw the department-wide action as necessary to overcome resistance and correct the problems at Palmyra.
“I understand his position, and he’s right,” Pullen said in an interview Thursday morning.
Pullen said department and county officials knew the suspension was possible and were not blindsided by the decision.
He described the suspension as part of a broader response to longstanding leadership, administrative, and cultural problems at Palmyra.
Shortly before the suspension, Pullen appointed Jamie Baughn as Palmyra’s new chief and named a new assistant chief to strengthen the company’s administration. Pullen said the leadership changes were needed to address the company’s operational and administrative problems.
Byrne’s notice allows him to restore authorization before the 45-day period expires, provided the department presents an acceptable corrective plan. Pullen said leaders from all three companies were working on that plan and hoped to have authorization restored within the next several days.
The notice was still in effect as of press time on Tuesday, Sept. 29.
The suspension has prevented volunteer personnel from providing EMS care through the department.
Pullen illustrated the practical effect by describing an incident at the Fork Union Day celebration on Sept. 12.
A person suffered a seizure while volunteer firefighters, including members wearing uniforms identifying them as EMTs, were present. Because the department’s authorization had been withdrawn, Pullen said, they could not provide EMS care.
Restoring authorization is a priority. At the same time, he believes the corrective process could help establish a stronger, more sustainable role for the department within the county’s emergency-response system.
“It’s an opportunity to take a step back to move forward,” he said. “That’s what we’re gonna do.”
