Crescent EMS expected to surrender license; questions adding up

Update on Saturday, Oct. 24 – No plan revealed for ambulance service in Crescent; last day set for Monday

During high school football action on Friday evening, an important meeting will be held in Crescent on the future of Crescent EMS. It is expected the EMS district will surrender their license and cease operations next week.

The Crescent Ambulance Service, which is funded by a 522 District and not the City of Crescent, has scheduled a 6:30 p.m. meeting inside the EMS barn to discuss their future and how residents not only in Crescent, but surrounding communities will be covered with emergency medical needs.

County commissioners were informed the final day of service will be Monday morning at 6 a.m. Click here to view the agenda.

The specific reasons have not been announced as to why the ambulance service is expected to come to an end, but sources indicate funding and finding and sustaining volunteers are the main factors in the decision.

Currently, the ambulance district depends on volunteers to operate their two ambulances. Some employees are paid a small fee to be on call and then a slightly higher wage for when they are dispatched to a call.

Logan County is covered with three 522 (ambulance) districts: Crescent, Guthrie and Cashion. In addition, EMSA covers a small portion in southern Logan County.

The City of Guthrie announced at Tuesday’s council meeting that the Guthrie Fire Department may pick up the additional coverage that is believed to be vacating. The City is withholding any information at this time until the meeting is held and more information is available.

Guthrie Fire Chief Eric Harlow is expected to be at the Friday meeting.

Harlow says the city of Crescent is a mile longer drive than Coyle, which Guthrie EMS currently services. However, the chief is quick to point out if coverage from Guthrie is needed for an extended amount of time or even permanently, a substation would need to be considered to provide an adequate response time for the northern part of the county.

Each 522 district collects three mills (state maximum amount that can be collected) from property taxes. Again, Harlow says no financial talks have been discussed at this time if Guthrie EMS should pick up the additional coverage.