Fire departments initiate trial dispatching program

Any wreck on Interstate 85 through Gaffney is likely to generate double the emergency response thanks to a trial program being run by members of the Gaffney Fire Department and the Grassy Pond Volunteer Fire Department.

The interstate has traditionally been the dividing line between the two fire districts and the city's firefighters have taken care of the northbound lanes while Grassy Pond has taken care of the southbound lanes.

But due to frequent confusion among Interstate travelers calling in accidents via cell phone, it's not always known by dispatchers which fire district the accident falls under.

Through a trial program being run by the two departments, dispatchers are now sending out both Gaffney Fire Department and Grassy Pond VFD to any wreck, regardless of the lane.

"That does a couple of things," said Gaffney Fire Chief Nathan Ellis. "It allows that victim who's injured a quicker response. And in a pretty major wreck, we'll have additional equipment and manpower responding."

The Gaffney Fire Department is manned 24 hours a day so there's always someone ready to jump in a truck. Grassy Pond VFD, meanwhile, actually has some extrication equipment that the Gaffney Fire Department doesn't possess currently.

Grassy Pond VFD Chief Nathan "Junior" Ellis, said the trial period of the dual response program was set to last about 90 days. The results of the program will likely be reviewed next month, he said.