Assistant F&R Chief Gerry Maiatico Responds to South Warren Citizen Concerns About Service Reduction

On Monday, July 27th, Royal Examiner got an alert from a Browntown resident concerned about Fire & Rescue equipment being pulled from the South Warren Volunteer Fire Department substation that day. Their concern was that “It will leave Browntown with no first responder capability from that substation,” which they fear will create an under-serviced danger zone throughout the area moving forward.

This reporter contacted Warren County Fire & Rescue Assistant Chief Gerry Maiatico regarding the emergency services situation in the South Warren/Browntown area. This is what he told us: “The South Warren Volunteer Fire Department has terminated its long-standing agreement with the Browntown Community Center Association to house fire apparatus and equipment at the Browntown substation. We understand that removing equipment from this location may create the impression of reduced service or longer wait times for local residents. However, we want to unequivocally reassure the citizens of Browntown that emergency services will continue without interruption.

Warren County Fire & Rescue’s primary South Warren station remains in full service, while its South Warren Volunteers substation, below, reduced to one volunteer and one brush truck response vehicle has been closed. Courtesy Photos WC Fire&Rescue

“Over the past several years, volunteer active membership at the Browntown substation has significantly declined,” Maiatico observed, adding, “Today, operations at the substation relied on a single emergency responder utilizing one response apparatus (brush truck) equipped with 250 gallons of water. Relying on a single responder for primary emergency coverage creates a fragile response structure.

“Because of this reliance, primary core response services for the Browntown community have continually been dispatched and provided directly from the primary South Warren station located on Stonewall Jackson Highway. That coverage model remains fully operational and active.

“Leadership from the Warren County Department of Fire and Rescue Services recently met with the President of the Browntown Community Center Association, and administrative and operational leadership from the South Warren Volunteer Fire Department to ensure emergency response operations remain uninterrupted during this transition.

WC Fire & Rescue Assistant Chief Gerry Maiatico, here in Royal Examiner file photo, assures South Warren/Browntown residents their emergency response service will not be impaired by the recent closing of the under-manned substation there.

“Primary emergency responses will continue from the Stonewall Jackson Highway station, ensuring a dependable, multi-responder crew arrives on scene with full operational capabilities when called.”

Royal Examiner lauds Warren County Fire & Rescue for its proactive stance in addressing a deteriorating situation at the undermanned South Warren substation, utilizing available resources at the department’s primary South Warren station on Stonewall Jackson Highway to assure residents of continued, timely emergency service responses.