SNOW HILL – Local fire companies have reached an agreement with the organization behind a major bicycling event to ensure emergency service needs are met.
Fire companies in Worcester County will receive roughly $8,700 to provide emergency services during Saturday’s Sea Gull Century Tour. The agreement comes after the Worcester County Commissioners expressed concern last month that the tour wasn’t covering the cost of the fire and EMS services provided by local companies during the event.
“We’re going to monitor the event this year and see if this is a sufficient amount of funding to cover the impact to our fire and EMS services,” said Weston Young, the county’s chief administrative officer.
In September, the commissioners asked staff to begin developing a special event permitting process after being made aware of concerns regarding the fire and EMS cost of the Sea Gull Century.
The bicycling event, which includes a 100-mile course and a 63-mile course, is held each October. While the event is based in Wicomico County, about 60% of it occurs in Worcester and creates a significant impact on local emergency services. Last year, staff said call volume doubled the day of the event.