By Deon J. Hampton -
NBC News
Exorbitant fuel prices have forced some emergency service providers to look for ways to cut costs, such as not sending first responders to non-emergency calls, cutting back on operations and reevaluating plans to purchase new equipment.
On Wednesday, the average cost of a gallon of regular gasoline in the United States was $5.01, well above the $3.07 average for the same period last year, according to the American Automobile Association (AAA). ).
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The rise comes as the country's inflation rate accelerated further in May, with prices rising 8.6% from a year ago, the fastest since December 1981, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Like many Americans, agencies providing emergency services have not been exempt from the pressure of skyrocketing costs.
Scott Matice, a captain with the Allegan County Sheriff's Office in Michigan, said deputies won't immediately respond to non-emergency calls and will reduce patrols to save on gas.
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“We have instructed our officers not to idle their vehicles and perform stationary traffic stops instead of patrolling and driving all over the place trying to find violations,” he explained.
Matice said calls where no evidence is required will be taken over the phone and further increases in gasoline could force the department to limit vehicle mileage.
“We want officers to be smarter on their patrols but still be visible,” Matice said.
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In Indiana, the Honey Creek Fire Department will restrict building inspections, use smaller vehicles more often and not allow firefighters to drive to training to save on fuel costs, according to Chief Thomas High.
His department has responded to 960 calls this year, but projects he will receive more than 2,000.
Gas prices are skyrocketing for a number of reasons, including more motorists hitting the road to kick off summer.
Also, many Western countries have not bought oil from Russia, a world oil producer, due to the invasion of Ukraine.
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In Colorado, John Frank, fleet manager for South Metro Fire Rescue, said he plans to offset gas costs by having crews maintain and repair their own vehicles instead of outsourcing the work.
The department will also not update its fleet.
“It is important to understand that fuel is always the biggest cost.
It's something we monitor very regularly,” Frank explained, adding that the department does not have a contract with a fuel supplier to supplement gasoline prices.
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West Virginia's Cabell County Sheriff Chuck Zerkle fears rising gas prices will push his department over its fuel budget and divert money from elsewhere.
"If I don't get any relief, I'm going to have to start cutting crews," Zerkle warned, adding that his department won't buy at least six new cruise ships at $50,000 each.
Officers could also stop responding to non-life-threatening 911 calls, but said that would be a last resort if gas prices rise higher and more funding from county government cannot be allocated.
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"People expect to make a call and someone will come," the sheriff said.
“They want to see you on the road being visible and deterring crime.
People expect us to be there, and we are going to be there for them,” he clarified.
Other emergency response agencies have also announced that they will have to find a way to continue normal operations as fuel prices rise.
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"We're not in a business where we can cut services," said Greg Porter, deputy director of the Ross/West View Emergency Medical Services Authority in Pittsburgh.
He projected the authority will exceed this year's fuel budget by at least $30,000 and said the vehicles will run for shorter periods.
“If people call 911, we have to go.
That is the nature of our work,” Porter recalled, adding that inflation has also pushed up the costs of their cleaning and medical supplies.
