Pocono News Section

Two Fire and EMS Services Merge

Two Fire and EMS Services Merge - Thursday, November 1, 2007 at 7:09PM EST

Reported by: JIll Konopka
Thursday, Nov 1, 2007 @07:09pm EST
(KINGSTON, LUZERNE COUNTY) - Two Fire and EMS Services will consolidate, yet maintain their own identities. Captain Bob Sgarlat said, “Everyone's on board 100-percent behind it, talked about it four years."

Starting Today, firefighters and paramedics in Kingston and Forty Fort will work as one serving the people of both boroughs’. Crews will now cover even more calls in a three and half mile territory - together.

Chief Robert Cannon from Kingston Fire Department, "Somone's going to be there to help a patient within 3 minutes and that's our goal to accomplish that." Borough leaders say it's been a labor of love. Mayor Boyd Hoats, "Initially there were a lot of questions about this.

Everyone agreed it's the right thing to do, concept there worked out the minor details, little issues, and now we're excited it's come." But, they're happy to beef up both fleets with combined crews and equipment.

Mayor James Haggerty added, "In the long run, we'll work together and not duplicate services and equipment, both taxpayers and the community will be better off." Chief Cannon added,” It won't cost taxpayers anymore money."

Together - both boroughs’ ambulance associations recently pooled their resources to purchase two new trucks. Forty Fort Council President Joseph Chacke told WBRE News, "It's a win-win for residents and Forty Fort and Kingston adding fleet to Forty Fort and response to Kingston."

Dispatch will now be done by Kingston - instead of Luzerne County 9-1-1. There is an 18-month trial period before a final decision is made whether the system is working for both boroughs.