SJCFT rolls out emergency ambulance services
SAINT JOSEPH COUNTY, Ind. -- For the first time, residents in parts of St. Joseph County have access to their own dedicated ambulance service a move local officials say will cut response times and save lives in emergencies where every second counts.
During a press conference Wednesday at Station 19 in Warren Township, Portage Township Trustee Jason Critchlow called the announcement a long awaited moment for the community.
"Today is all about promises made and promises kept," Critchlow said, noting the service has been in conversation for years.
Since launching on June 1, the new ambulance has already responded to 11 medical calls, five of which resulted in full transports.
The unit is a brand-new, $550,000 fully stocked vehicle that officials described as the "Cadillac" of ambulances.
"I think the expectation in this community is, I don’t care where I am, if my loved one is having a heart attack, is choking, or my child is in a medical emergency and I call 911, I need help here, and I need it right now," said Critchlow.
Part of the all steel, fully stocked, new ambulance was manufactured locally in St. Joseph County.
A seat where first responders can strap in or convert to a child seat if needed, came from EVS in South Bend.
The ambulance is based at the newly opened fire station, part of the St. Joseph County Fire Territory created last year.
Before this addition, residents in Warren and Portage Townships had to rely on emergency response from stations on Bendix Drive or York Road in South Bend, often leading to longer wait times.
Chief Steve Downey of the St. Joseph County Fire Territory was excited to announce that is no longer the case.
"We’re very proud to say that we will be on the scene within about five minutes," Downey said. "We’re able to do this now with an ambulance right in our backyard, so we’re pretty excited about what we are doing."
Despite the step forward, Downey acknowledged there are still limitations within the territory. Crews will occasionally need to rely on mutual aid from nearby departments, including the City of South Bend.
Looking ahead, township leaders hope to expand service with a second ambulance if additional funding becomes available, as the surrounding area continues to grow, including the arrival of the Amazon Data Center in neighboring New Carlisle.
"It means it's going to save lives and really transform this community in a lot of ways," Critchlow said. "Businesses looking to develop in this community are looking at what’s going on when it comes to fire protection as well."