The dozens of buildings at The Highlands retail center in Ohio County often are crowded with thousands of people, becoming a small community of sorts. Those who work, shop and eat at The Highlands have to rely for fire protection and emergency medical services on volunteers based several miles away.
Already, the need for a more permanent arrangement to provide fire and emergency medical services is apparent. As The Highlands continues to grow, the need will, too.
Members of the Valley Grove Volunteer Fire Department, who have adopted the slogan that they are "the guardians of The Highlands," want to provide that permanent presence. Fire Chief John Harto Jr. told our reporter that the department will seek a federal grant to pay firefighters who will work at a station planned for The Highlands. Until the grant is obtained, Valley Grove volunteers will take turns manning the station, he added.
Ohio County Commissioner Randy Wharton said construction of a building to house the firefighters and other emergency services could begin this fall. He added that, "We're not sure of funding for that building ..."
It is understandable, as Wharton pointed out, that county officials have been extremely busy for the past couple of years "working on producing jobs" at The Highlands. Obviously, they have done well at that.
But we agree with Harto and other Valley Grove firefighters that a permanent emergency services presence is important for The Highlands.
While volunteer firefighters do an excellent job in serving The Highlands, they are based several miles away. Minutes lost in getting personnel and equipment to The Highlands in response to a fire, medical crisis or some other emergency could make a critical difference.
We encourage county officials, then, to continue working with the firefighters to provide a base for them at The Highlands. We also encourage federal officials to look favorably upon any request for a grant to assist the project.