BY ANNA GUIDO
Enquirer Contributor
LIBERTY TOWNSHIP -- John Detherage starts work today as assistant fire chief in charge of emergency medical services as the township moves closer to getting paramedics.
"I'm very excited. It's a new challenge," he said.
Assistant Chief Detherage, 31, will head up the township fire department's new paramedic service, made possible with funds from a voter-approved fire levy last November.
The 3-mill levy replaced a 1-mill levy. Up until now, this fast-growing Butler County township has had to rely on neighboring communities. Liberty Township's population is estimated at more than 20,000, up from 9,200 in 1990. As a result, the fire department is busier: the number of life squad and fire runs jumped from about 700 in 1994 to nearly 1,050 in 1996.
Before coming to Liberty Township, Assistant Chief Detherage was a firefighter - paramedic for the city of Springdale. He also worked as a volunteer and part-time firefighter for the fire department in Butler County's Union Township, where he lives.
Assistant Chief Detherage's salary for his full-time position with Liberty Township is $42,500.
Fire Chief Paul Stumpf said paramedic care will be available as soon as the department gets its paramedic response unit, an emergency medical services vehicle.
"This unit will be our first responder," Chief Stumpf said. "Paramedics will get to the scene first, stabilize patients and do whatever care they need to do."
This week, Assistant Chief Detherage will begin laying the ground work -- including establishing medical protocol and hiring more paramedics. Preparations include upgrades to the fire department's Yankee Road station, which will serve as paramedic headquarters. The 1,700-square-foot expansion will include dormitory quarters for paramedics and firefighters.
Chief Stumpf said the work will cost about $200,000.
