An agreement recently reached between AMR-Rural/Metro and Knoxville Volunteer Emergency Rescue Squad, allows AMR to help staff several rescue trucks around the county with paid employees.
The Knoxville Volunteer Emergency Rescue Squad has been around since the late 1950's, and will not change under this new agreement, according to Deputy Chief John Whited.
"Same color, same uniform, same people, there will be some additional staffing to help us," Whited told 10News.
He said the additional help is much needed as staffing levels have become an issue over the years.
"Yeah, we struggle, as most volunteer agencies do with staffing and we are basically going to go from one rescue truck and trying to keep that staffed to 3 or 4 rescue trucks to be able to provide that level of service that I think is critical in 2017," Whited added.
Chief Jerry Harnish with AMR told WBIR 10News the change is designed to make sure there is adequate staffing available around the clock.
"Adding the staffing does add some costs but it makes sure that there is somebody who is actually on duty 24 hours a day in each of those three vehicles," Harnish said.
The biggest change for the public could come in the form of a bill.
"They can be expected to be billed by Rural/Metro fire if they are not already a member," Harnish said.
Who would be affected? If you are in an accident and are treated by the staffed AMR rescue technician, and do not subscribe to Rural Metro, you will have to pay for those services.
Harnish said most auto insurance companies could cover the bill for rescue assistance. The rates for the bill start at $725.
Several volunteers on the rescue squad reached out to 10News with their concerns regarding this agreement.
One volunteer, who asked to remain anonymous, said the agreement stems from a financial issue.
"That’s what this is, it’s wrong and it’s wrong to a lot of people," the volunteer said.
He added, they are volunteers for a reason as they do not want to be paid for their service.
“You take something that we’ve had here and it’s the epitome of what we are supposed to be in the state. Being the volunteer state. Countless stories that are done by people who don’t want any money for doing it," the volunteer said. "They are going to carve out our service."
But Whited believes the agreement is an overall positive. When asked if he sees any negatives to the situation, he said no.
"It’s a win for the rescue squad, it’s especially a win for the citizens of Knox County because at the end of the day that’s what we have to do, is provide for them," Whited said.
The rescue squad currently has about 120 volunteers that specialize in extrications after car crashes, water rescues and cave rescues, to name a few, according to Whited.