WALHALLA — The fire protection study performed by Mizelle, Hodges and Associates, while highlighting the county’s considerable efforts to augment its fire suppression capabilities, didn’t exactly provide a ringing endorsement.

Most of the 17 stations, consultant J.C. Robertson wrote, would see slight rating improvement if an ISO inspection were held today.

Oakway would have seen the most improvement, the report found, with an estimated classification of five, an improvement of two from its seven recorded in 1985. Many other stations were estimated to have improved by one, such as Salem, Mountain Rest, Keowee-Ebenezer and South Union. At least seven others would have seen no change, the report found.

Most of the recommendations for ISO improvement were records and reporting-related, as Oakway and Salem were deemed to be in need of improvement in overall records keeping, while some departments like Mountain Rest, Walhalla, Fair Play, Long Creek and Friendship were recommended to implement the standard South Carolina Fire Reporting System.

South Union and Mountain Rest were determined to be in need of improving their training records.

The report also detailed the consultant’s views on Station 21 and the proposed Westminster firehouse.

Station 21 was deemed “a major issue” relating to fire services and determined to be largely ineffective.

“Although operating concepts outlined for its debut a year ago were well-intentioned, it appears that its emergence has limited favorable impact on the service rendered by fire forces in the county,” the report reads.

Station 21 fails to bolster any ISO ratings in the county, the report said, mainly because of the station’s personnels’ duties anywhere in the county, reducing the likelihood of immediate availability in emergency situations.

Station 21’s existence as a self-standing station located in the center of Seneca, Walhalla and Westminster provides the best use of the personnel, the report found. Station 21 crew would also be available to assist volunteer stations with training and equipment maintenance in the evening under the recommendation.

Emergency Services Director Rodney Burdette said he was frustrated by the report.

“I’m just disappointed with the whole study,” Burdette said. “As far as Station 21, the value of what its long-term plan was seems to have been lost.”

Station 21 was intended to be the first installment in the establishment of four zones in the county, where phased-in paid staff would provide further fire protection throughout Oconee County.

To absorb costs, the plan was to be achieved in about a five-year period.

The study also recommended that an emergency services building not be located in the same building as the current Westminster firehouse being debated by the Safety Committee. Rather, a more central location in the county should be found.

Burdette said the study did more critiquing than providing specific suggestions for improvement within the context of the county’s long-term emergency services plan.

“It seems they were critiquing structure more than it was looking at the value of the response it provides,” Burdette said. “It wasn’t looking at emergency services from the point of view of the overall plan. It never took that into consideration.”

Robertson also included in the study’s cover letter a statement regarding “gross disparities” in the funding mechanisms for fire protection in the county that demanded attention.

Robertson explained himself Friday.

“The amounts that are available through the county’s funding mechanism do not relate directly to the level of service provided,” he said. “It would seem like the funding available for the jurisdictions should relate to the level of service.”

THE FUTURE

Robertson said he was aware of the controversy surrounding Oconee County’s Emergency Services and fire protection plan, defending the job Burdette had done in a short period of time.

“I think the centralized service can be of considerable help to the system. The basic system has a lot to offer, however, it needs tweaking to make it more valuable,” he said.

Robertson also opined on Station 21, stating he would not go so far as to get rid of the so-called “phantom station,” as many are suggesting.

“I think personnel there can render assistance, but it needs to be directed in a different manner,” he said. “While they’re trying, I believe it could have been started in a way that is more beneficial to the system. Efforts could be redefined and more worthwhile.”

The report itself echoed the same sentiment, that despite needed changes and improvements in operations, the efforts of both the volunteers and the paid Emergency Services personnel had made strides in fire protection.

The report states “the existing scheme of 13 county-supported volunteer fire departments is providing good fire protection at an economical cost.”

Robertson said Station 21 and Emergency Services as a whole have room for improvement.

“It’s in its infancy, and they’ve accomplished an awful lot in a short period of time,” he said.