first responders

Editor's Note: There was incorrect information published about the Hill Country 100 Club in 'Commissioners honor responders' story, published in the Tuesday, June 13 edition of The Highlander. Membership is not limited to 100 people and yearly memberships have several levels of sponsorship available for businesses and individuals. The scholarship information was also incorrect. The corrected story follows.

By Phil Reynolds

Local first responders will be taking advantage of plans by Panda Express to come to Marble Falls.

Training will be going on during the next several weeks in an abandoned building in the 2000 block of US 281 North, next to Chick-fil-A, so citizens don't need to be alarmed by an increase in first responder traffic there.

“The building is slated for demolition to make way for the new Panda Express,” said Marble Falls Fire Chief Russell Sander. “This provides area fire departments an excellent opportunity to train firefighters in a commercial building and practice some skills that normally require special facilities to complete.

“No actual fire will be used during this training.”

Sander made his comments in a press release to alert residents they would see increased Marble Falls Fire Rescue and other first responser activity around the building at various times.

A drill carried out Feb. 23 in the City of Horseshoe Bay simulated an "active shooter" event.

Conducted by the Horseshoe Bay Police Department (HSBPD), and Horseshoe Bay Fire Department (HSBFD), the simulation brought employees, as well as Marble Falls Area Emergency Medical Service (MFAEMS) ambulance crews into a scenario with gunmen and explosives.

“This training will allow the individual agencies to coordinate and respond with one another to a simulated active shooter situation and later evaluate their collaborative response,” said HSBPD Chief Rocky Wardlow.

“This joint training will assist our agency in reducing the risk to our firefighters by incorporating procedures, training, and protective equipment, while providing rapid stabilization, treatment, and evacuation of the wounded despite hazardous conditions that would otherwise delay treatment,” said HSBFD Chief Joe Morris.

By Glynis Crawford Smith

The Highlander

An event billed as “food and lots of memories” will celebrate the 40th Anniversary of the Marble Falls Area Emergency Medical Service from 1-4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 29.

It will take place at the EMS station at 609 Industrial Boulevard in Marble Falls and it will be a rare chance outside the throes of an emergency or the clamor of a community celebration to visit with paramedics and technicians.

And the memories will be many for an organization that has grown from a fledgling ambulance in Marble Falls in 1976 to a force of six MICU (Mobile Intensive Care Unit) capable ambulances and two SUV first responders housed at stations in Marble Falls, Granite Shoals, and Horseshoe Bay.

The service runs up to 4,000 calls each year in as many as 450 call per month by 9-1-1 and inter-facility transfers. They are staffed by 48 paramedics, 32 of whom are are full time.

First responders may have been the honorees at the the Marble Falls Rotary Club's 15th Annual 9/11 Day of Remembrance, but they still were on duty.

One fire rescue team was called out during the ceremony and as the final notes of closing music were sounding a call for help was shouted from the back of the crowd.

Emergency medical technicians and fire rescue members rush to the aid of the senior member of the color guard from Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 10376. Lloyd Crippen's condition was assessed and he was rushed to Seton Highland Lakes Hospital.

VFW District Commander Bob Hanson said Crippen he was revived in short order and was released when responded within a few hours to treatment for dehydration.