State fire marshal sees challenges with VFD report

State Fire Marshal Tony Carrico told state lawmakers last week he’s concerned about the thoroughness of a report he is required to submit to lawmakers a year from now.

A 2012 state law requires a full report on the volunteer fire department system in West Virginia. As part of that report, Carrico sent out surveys to 445 volunteer fire departments, but when the Oct. 31 deadline had come and gone only 250 departments had bothered to at least partially complete the survey. Carrico said unfortunately there’s no teeth in the law to force compliance.

“The legislation did not authorize the marshal or any state agency the authority to mandate this information. This was simply a request,” Carrico said.

Carrico has enlisted the help of the state Fire Commission. He’s also hopeful students at West Virginia State University will help him with data entry and analysis of the information. Carrico said this study is different from what his office does on a daily basis.

“This, being actuaries and fiscal analysis people, that’s not what we do. However, we’re going to take the data we do receive and try and do the best we can with what we have to submit,” Carrico said.

Some of the initial information has been reviewed. Carrico said all VFDs are not the same.

“There’s a huge difference statewide in how these departments are funded, maintained, administered at various levels,” he said.

The deadline for the comprehensive report is Dec. 2015. Carrico said there’s lots to be done between now and then.