CLEVELAND - White County soon will have at least two paid firefighters on duty 24 hours a day.<br />
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During an extended meeting that lasted two-1/2 hours Monday afternoon, the White County Board of Commissioners approved adding three additional personnel for the fire department, bringing to 11 the full-time paid staff, and implementing a 24-hour on-duty fire personnel plan. <br />
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White County Public Safety Director David Murphy presented the commissioners with a plan that will enable the county to have personnel on duty around the clock. <br />
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"We will implement that with having two people on duty, 24/48, and then have additional staff on during the day when the call volume is high, and this will provide a greater enhanced level of service for the citizens of White County," Murphy said.<br />
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Murphy said the plan will be implemented Oct. 1, and the firefighters will be housed at the Leaf fire station, located on Duncan Bridge Road. <br />
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Murphy told commissioners that of the current fire facilities that is the best for firefighters to respond in all directions when they're needed.<br />
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Just before commissioners voted to approve, Commissioner Edwin Nix said he could go along with the plan but he wants his district to have a faster response time.<br />
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Nix proposed utilizing the building commissioners were meeting in to provide a more centralized location for the firefighters.<br />
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"I also know that this facility has plenty of room in it and is a better point for that distribution than where he's at, especially if the call comes out on the west side of the county which is in my district," Nix said. <br />
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As part of the approved plan, the county will use the back area of the County Administration Building, which was the former detention center, to house fire trucks and personnel. <br />
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Some renovations will be required, and Murphy said they want to look at an overall design that not only benefit the fire department but have other area in the building made available. <br />
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Murphy said the administration building being located in Cleveland will provide a better location for responding units, and it will help with the ISO fire protection rating and provide additional assistance and credit for the City of Cleveland Fire Department. <br />
