Ohio Medics at Sheriff's Office to Speed Response

Hoping to ease concerns about potentially long response times, Marysville's fire division plans to house one of its emergency medical units at the Union County sheriff's office.

Residents were worried that response times to the historic downtown area would slow after the city opened its Decker Fire Station at 16300 County Home Rd. earlier this month. The new station is nearly 3 miles northeast of the old one, which is closed for about a year while the city remodels it into a new municipal complex.

Although the added distance isn't yet delaying emergency help, Mayor John Gore said in a news release, officials chose to take precautions.

Union County agreed to let the unit park at the sheriff's office, 221 W. 5th St. That's expected to begin the week of Nov. 12. When available, a fire lieutenant and two firefighter paramedics will staff the location during the day.

Copyright 2012 - The Columbus Dispatch, Ohio

McClatchy-Tribune News Service