Randolph Fire merges with Brierfield Fire to help improve emergency response

BIBB COUNTY, Ala. (WBRC) - Good news for some folks in Bibb County - you’re about to get improved emergency response services.

After a final vote on Tuesday, the Randolph Volunteer Fire Department will merge with Brierfield Fire and Rescue.

This merger will allow them to improve emergency response for both communities.

Brierfield and Randolph Fire say great things are yet to come.

Brierfield’s motto is neighbors helping neighbors and that’s exactly what they are doing - especially after Randolph, like many volunteer fire departments, is struggling to recruit and retain volunteers.

For years, Brierfield has been providing emergency medical services and mutual aid for the Randolph community.

“We have two advanced life support rescue units, one station here in the Brierfield area once in the six-mile area. So, we can get to Randolph fairly quickly within four or five minutes, usually from those locations,” said Vic Walker, president of the Brierfield board of directors.

Walker said a lot of times, Randolph Fire didn’t have anyone to respond and would have to wait for Brierfield’s ambulance service.

“And sometimes that’s a 15, 20, sometimes 30-minute response time, so we’re able to get there a lot quicker, we can go ahead and provide some advanced life support and get the patient ready for transport,” said Walker.

Some of the benefits to the community would be increased training opportunities for both departments and insurance savings for the Randolph community.

“The iso rating in Brierfield is a four/nine, which is a tremendous savings to people on their homeowner’s insurance. Randolph is not a four, they are a nine so they will immediately become a four/nine and be able to take advantage of those savings,” said Brierfield Fire Chief Spruce McCree.

“Some of the frustrations we’ve had and not being able to respond to calls is relieved by this and again we welcome this, and we’re excited about it,” said Hugh Nichols, the chairman of the Randolph board of directors.

Brierfield and Randolph anticipate about a six-month transition period. They have already started taking calls in Randolph, but hope to officially cover that area starting May 1, 2024.

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