Fire and EMS services in Isle of Wight County are delivered through a combination of volunteer and career responders.  Currently there is no “formal process” that ensures collaborative input amongst these stakeholders on items impacting the Fire/EMS system.   The Board of Supervisors has expressed interest in formally establishing such a group to ensure that the views of all stakeholders (volunteer, career, and administration) are considered during such matters. 

A Fire and Rescue Association currently exists within Isle of Wight County and provides a forum for discussing fire and EMS related topics.   The Fire and Rescue Association representatives vote on matters germane to the Association; however, members in attendance, including their level of decision-making authority for their respective Departments vary. 

It is important to note that the current Fire and Rescue Association is a functional group that has experienced success.  The current Fire and Rescue Association could be seen as a working group of the Advisory Board, while the proposed Advisory Board would be charged with providing the “official position” of the various agencies to the Board of Supervisors.  The Fire and Rescue Association would vet associated matters prior to an “official” Advisory Board vote. 

The Fire and Rescue Association recommends that the Board of Supervisors establish an official advisory body comprised of the Isle of Wight County Fire EMS agency representatives to serve as a consultative body for the Board of Supervisors on matters of “fire EMS system” policy, standards and recommendations. 

The proposed Isle of Wight County Fire and Rescue Advisory Board will provide a formally-documented, functional structure to ensure input from volunteer and career stakeholders is provided and considered during the policy making and review processes for fire EMS system related items, and keeps stakeholder representatives engaged in an integrated, county-wide fire and rescue system.

Proposed Structure

• Each fire and rescue agency Chief in the County will submit two names; a primary representative plus one (1) alternate, to the Isle of Wight County Board of Supervisors each December.  The Board will ratify members of the Fire & Rescue Advisory Board at their January meeting.  The term of an Advisory Board member would be for one year.  Names may be submitted for appointment by the agency Chief at any time to replace members that are unable to fulfill their term on the Advisory Board. 

• The Fire and Rescue Advisory Board may bring matters forward to the Board of Supervisors for consideration or the Board of Supervisors may assign specific items to the Advisory Board for review.

• Each agency will have one (1) vote and a voting member must be present to vote.  Advisory Board members must be ratified by the Board of Supervisors prior to being allowed to vote.

• The Fire and Rescue Advisory Board will meet on an as needed basis, in conjunction with/or in addition to the existing Fire and Rescue Association.

• The Chairperson of the Fire Rescue Association will serve as Chairperson of the Fire and Rescue Advisory Board. The Isle of Wight County Department of Emergency Services representative will not serve as the Advisory Board Chairperson.