Double Springs FD no longer running medical calls in Black Pond

DOUBLE SPRINGS - A letter from the Double Springs Fire Department stating they would discontinue medical calls in the Black Pond community effective March 12, was unanimously approved by the town council at their regular meeting Monday, March 10.
The letter, which was presented by Double Springs Fire Chief Brandon Lewis for each council member to read before the vote was taken, read that, “Beginning March 12, the Double Springs Fire Department will no longer respond to medical calls within the Black Pond Fire Department coverage area, unless requested by medical personnel on the scene.
“This will also include lift assist calls,” the letter continued. “Double Springs Fire will still respond to fires and MVC (motor vehicle accidents) in Black Pond coverage area.”
Lewis emphasized in the letter that the decision to discontinue medical calls to Black Pond was not taken lightly, but was for the safety and well being of the residents within the Double Springs fire coverage area and of the firefighters/first responders in the department.
After giving council members time to read the letter, Mayor Elmo Robinson asked them if they had any questions about the issue.
“We ran four calls down there last month, just medical,” Lewis informed the council.

 “We ran one this morning, but RPS (ambulance) called us to help them.”
Robinson then asked for a motion for the council to give Lewis authorization to officially enforce the letter to Black Pond.
The motion included Lewis delivering a copy of the letter to both Black Pond Fire Chief Terry Tidwell and the Winston County E 9-1-1 office in Double Springs.
Council member Brittney Tucker made the motion, with Andy McSpadden seconding and all voting in favor, including Tucker, McSpadden, Tim Cockrell, Hobby Walker and Adam Veal.
Lewis explained to the Alabamian after the council meeting the major reason why they were discontinuing medical calls to Black Pond was that, by doing so, they were leaving the Double Springs fire coverage area basically uncovered.
“We’re taking our guys out of our coverage area to cover medical calls down there.  I don’t feel like it’s appropriate for the people of Double Springs who pay their fire dues to us,” Lewis pointed out.
“When you have two or three guys during the day time that can cover stuff and we have to run a medical call in Black Pond, it leaves the town uncovered.  I can’t do that,” Lewis added.
“We’re a small unit,” Robinson added. “If we send people down there, that leaves Double Springs without anybody basically, especially if we have to send a truck down there.
“It’s not fair to the people here in Double Springs that are supporting this volunteer fire department for us to have to cover their (Black Pond’s) area,” Robinson further emphasized.