Oak Bluffs Fire & EMS, Martha's Vineyard **NEW HQ OPEN**

[Medic One 10]

We finally got into our new HQ over the past week. Here is a quick rundown.

Almost a year to the day from the start of construction, the Oak Bluffs fire department moved into the new $8.3 million Fire/EMS building on Wing Rd, on Sunday, December 6. There are still small list items to be fixed, computers to be installed but the new 20,250-square-foot, 12-bay station is up and operational. The are sleeping quarters, a gym, medical treatment area, decon area, two training rooms, a full kitchen etc.....

The department is staffed by a combination of Paid Fire/Paramedics and Volunteers. Providing Fire / EMS Protection to the Town of Oak Bluffs on the Island of Martha's Vineyard. We also assist other local communities with Fire/EMS mutual aid. Oak Bluffs FD/EMS also provides off Island EMS ground transport for patients that need a higher level of medical care than what Martha's Vineyard Hospital can provide after they provide initial medical stabilization. Yes, that's right we take the Ambulance on the ferry and typically transport to Boston Area Hospitals (approx 3hr transport one way).

The station houses: An Aerial Ladder Truck, Rescue, Dive Unit, Rehab Unit, Fire Command vehicle, 4 Engines, 4 Ambulances, and a Paramedic Quick Response Vehicle. In addition they also have have two boats on the water (MetalCraft 39.6 foot Jet Drive Boat and 19 ft skiff), a bicycle unit and separate house for the Antique and Museum.

The house also features custom embroidered duty chairs with department patch

About Martha's Vineyard: Marthas Vineyard is approximately 96 square miles, roughly triangular in shape, 25 miles (42k) at its longest point east to west, and 9 miles (12.8k) at the longest point north to south. The Vineyard is home to 15,000 year-round residents. During the summer months the population increases to 115,000. Sixty-three percent of the homes on the Vineyard belong to seasonal residents. Martha's Vineyard is only accessible by Air and/or boat. A typical ferry ride is about 45 minutes to reach one of the two island ports.

**Oak Bluffs primary response area is about 26 sq miles.

Edited December 18, 2015 by Medic One

[babhits16 28]

Beautiful! How critical of patients do you transport off the island? Medication drips or ventilators? At what point does Boston MedFlight get called?

[BFD2553 75]

12 Bays!!! I don't think there are 12 Bays in the 4 closest FD's in our area combined LOL. Congrats and Good Luck with it.

[Medic One 10]

Med flight is called based on weather, timing and obviously at the ER MD's descretion. We only have ferries running from 6am-945pm but we rarely will go off island after 8pm so we don't get stuck off island until the next morning in "America" as we call it....

Based on how serious the pt is we will do the Med Flight run but we are all Critial CareParamedics and can take vented puts, drips, etc...

On average I can say we go off 2-3 times a day during our peak season (April-October) and once a day off season.

It's definitely different being a municipal service doing long CCTx and being with a patient for that length of time but also it s cool as we can be a paramedic vs. doing renal roundup or having 10 min tx and moving on to the next call.

It can be challenging tho as during peak season we regularly get called in early and get out late for off islands holding from the night before, and discharges from the Acute/ICU floor to another hospital in "America". A typical 10hr day shift turns into a 14-16hr shift.

And yes we have power, lights, A/c and heat on the ambulance during out 45 min ferry ride because we have 30amp shoreline power and plug into the ferry. We do get priority on the ferry and if they need to they will bump cars to fit us. We can also ride on the open Frieght ferries if needed..

Great perks of the job to go to sea and watch sunsets as the picture below show.

Edited December 18, 2015 by Medic One

[kinkchaser 352]

Oak Bluff ,Vineyard Haven and portions of Edgartown have some of the worst fire spread potential, I have ever seen