Ala. county ambulance service ends operations

Pickens County Ambulance Service was down to just one rig in October due to a lack of funding

December 04, 2024 10:57 AM

By Bill Carey
EMS1

PICKENS COUNTY, Ala. — An Alabama county made the decision to end its ambulance service after operating with only one rig due to a lack of funding.

The Lamar County ambulance service has stepped in to assist after Pickens County ended its ambulance service for good on Dec. 1. Lamar County placed a unit in Carrollton for services for nearby residents, ABC 3340 reported.

Rural EMS

Ala. county on the verge of losing its only ambulance

Pickens County Ambulance Service dropped to one ambulance in October due to a lack of funding

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The urgency for additional ambulance services grew even more pressing after a man died on Christmas 2023, following a wait of over an hour for the county’s sole ambulance.

In October, it was reported that a single ambulance was tasked with serving a population of up to 19,000. With no local hospital in the area, response times for calls were stretching from one to two hours.

County officials are looking to establish an ambulance service through the Pickens County Commission Office. Meanwhile, Aliceville Mayor Terrence Windham stated the Pickens County Sheriff’s office will also help assist as first responders.

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