West Virginia Officers Break Up Student `Emergency Team`

April 13—Fayette County Fire Coordinator Joe Crist recently taught a group of well-meaning high school students that good intentions sometimes just aren't enough.

Crist, Fayette Sheriff's deputies and other officials stopped the formation of an "emergency response team" by younger residents who haven't received appropriate certification and training to respond to fires and other catastrophes.

In late March, Fayette Sheriff Steve Kessler and Crist's office began hearing reports that a group calling itself the "Fayette County Community Emergency Response Team" (CERT) had been asking for members, community support and money.

Those leading the effort were allegedly telling potential recruits that they would respond to local natural disasters, car wrecks, missing persons and rescue efforts in wilderness areas, said Kessler.

They also told recruits they'd be assisting police, emergency medical service personnel and firefighters.

Most training would be done "online," although the group hosted regular meetings, Kessler reported.

"This organization was not affiliated with any of our local volunteer fire departments or with the Fayette County Office of Emergency Services," Crist said.

Official emergency response teams must be affiliated with the Fayette County Office of Emergency Services, maintain an insurance liability policy, be licensed by the State Secretary of State as a non-profit agency, must file reports on fundraising activities and must be trained in emergency response.

When county officials looked for the new CERT's non-profit license with the West Virginia Secretary of State's Office, they couldn't find it, Kessler said.

When mystified officials began investigating the rogue "organization," they heard that a group of students from local high schools was behind the grass-roots emergency response effort.

When Crist learned that the group would meet Saturday in Ansted—the territory of Ansted Fire Department Chief Mike Gray, who Kessler identified as one of the state's most highly trained vertical rescue technicians—he and several deputies showed up for the meeting.

"What we found was a group of well-meaning kids who were trying to do something good for the community," said Crist. "They were just going about it in the wrong way."

Group leaders told Crist they hadn't realized that they were breaking the law.

Crist and Kessler said it's vital that emergency responders be trained.

"Our local volunteer fire departments have numerous volunteers who have received extensive training in emergency first aid, high-angle rescue techniques, swift-water rescue techniques, underwater search and recovery, wilderness rescue and other specialized training," said Kessler. "The presence of well-meaning but untrained volunteers at an emergency scene can not only complicate rescue operations, but can endanger the lives of trained first-responders as well."

Crist said he isn't opposed to community volunteers but urged those who want to help with emergencies to gain the proper training and find an organization where their skills will best be utilized.

"We're certainly not opposed to volunteers who want to help our communities," said Crist. "Our local volunteer fire departments welcome new members, provided that these volunteers are physically able to perform the demanding tasks required of fire-fighting and search-and-rescue operations.

"From what we've been able to gather, however, some of the volunteers for this CERT Team had been rejected by local fire departments due to their physical limitations or their inability to complete required training," he said. "If individuals want to give back to their community, but are unable to physically perform the duties of firefighters, EMS or law enforcement, there are numerous local organizations, such as the local chapter of the American Red Cross, which would welcome assistance from new volunteers."

Kessler said he won't be pressing any charges.

"Based on the results of this investigation, it does not appear at this time that the individuals affiliated with this group had any criminal intent," he said. "The organizers of the group have denied soliciting any donations or conducting any type of fund-raising activities. Therefore no criminal charges have been filed at this time."

Kessler asked anyone who knows about fund-raising activities by any members of the group to contact his office at (304) 574-4216 or to submit information on Facebook at "Fayette County Sheriff's Department."