By Elizabeth Skrapits
The Citizens’ Voice
Wilkes-Barre, Pa.— After 45 years, the Jackson Township Volunteer Ambulance Association is signing off for good.
The association, formed in 1970, is giving its official 90-day notice that it is dissolving, and nearby ambulance companies will respond to calls instead.
“It was a very tough decision for us to make. We tried everything we could think of doing, prior to this happening,” Jackson Township Ambulance Association Captain Tom Lewis said.
On behalf of the entire association, he thanked residents for their support over the past 45 years, because “With a heavy heart, we have to do this.”
Lewis said the dissolution resulted from a combination of factors, mainly not having enough volunteers combined with increased training requirements imposed by the state. The core four or five people the ambulance association has now is not enough to keep it open, he said.
“We just can’t maintain the staffing,” he said.
The association is not in a financial bind right now, but the duty crew — paid personnel — was “quite an expense,” Lewis said.
Jackson Township Supervisor Chairman John J. Wilkes Jr. said the ambulance company gave verbal notification to the supervisors a few weeks ago about the intent to dissolve, and now needs to submit something in writing.
“They did a great job, and there’s no denying that,” Wilkes said.
Back Mountain Regional Fire and Emergency Medical Services, which was formed in 2013, provides advanced life support in Jackson Township. However, municipalities are required by law to have a basic life support provider.
Wilkes said the supervisors will pass a resolution replacing the Jackson Township ambulance association with Kunkle Fire & Ambulance Rescue for basic life support. Kunkle already is the second call medic unit for the township, he said.
Asked if the dissolution of Jackson Township’s ambulance company would affect response time, Lewis said he thought it might in certain parts of the township — but then, Back Mountain Regional is a 24-hour paid service, and unlike the Jackson Township association, they don’t have to wait for volunteers, “so it kind of balances out.”
The ambulance company rents its station at 1162 Chase Road from the Jackson Township Volunteer Fire Co., Lewis said. Under the ambulance association bylaws, the fire company had the opportunity to take it over, which didn’t happen.
Lewis said the ambulance association is going to sell off everything and give the money to the fire department, so the money donated by residents over the years will stay within the township.
Residents with comments or questions about the dissolution of the Jackson Township Volunteer Ambulance Association can contact jacksontwpems@gmail.com.
Last call for Duryea
The Duryea Ambulance Rescue Service Association, chartered in 1957, also gave its formal notice last month.
Duryea Ambulance Rescue Service Association decided to dissolve in May 2013. The association made it formal with a legal ad this January, and its headquarters at 261 Marcy St. are being turned over to the borough.
Unlike in Jackson Township, Duryea Ambulance Association President Mary McAndrew said there was no issue with volunteers. Instead, Duryea’s problem was a lack of money.
Attorney John Kulick, representing Duryea’s ambulance association, said an investigation was done into its financials, “and it was a case of more money going out than coming in.”
Avoca Ambulance Association took over Duryea’s coverage, and they have been “excellent,” McAndrew said.
“I have nothing but the highest praise for them,” she said.
©2015 The Citizens’ Voice (Wilkes-Barre, Pa.)