EMS squad becomes 26th ambulance service in W.Va. to close in 2 years

HILLSBORO, W.Va. — Hillsboro EMS, an ambulance squad serving Pocahontas County, has announced it is permanently shutting down — becoming the 26th ambulance service to close in West Virginia over the past two years.

Hillsboro EMS, which operates under the Hillsboro Volunteer Fire Department, will donate its ambulance to the Preston County Commission to support the Pocahontas County Ambulance Service, WBOY reported.

The squad announced on social media on May 23 that its decision to close was driven by several factors, including rising ambulance maintenance costs, challenges meeting state regulations and a shortage of volunteers.

The squad said that despite county funding and revenue from emergency calls, the cost of maintaining the service was simply too high.

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