The recommendations follow recent discussions by the Berkeley County Commission. No rules are currently in place. And we have to do these things in an equal and fair manner. Strauss said volunteer fire companies can't sign contracts for the services because they are non-profit groups. The issue of money still must be sorted out by the committee reviewing the draft, Hite said.
Donations received by the fire company for an event go to the authority.
The money will be distributed to the county volunteer fire departments. Any fire company providing stand-by service at an event must have another full crew ready to go in case of emergency. No volunteer fire company can sign a contract guaranteeing stand-by ambulance services. He also questioned whether the county should be providing services to groups that are for-profit businesses. The South Berkeley Volunteer Fire Department had been providing stand-by service for Mountaineer Raceway, although the racetrack has since contracted with a private business.