Another one bites the dust

[50-65 205]

Short of volunteers, ambulance corps folds

December 19, 2007 Otisville — The Mount Hope Volunteer Ambulance Corps disbanded this week because of a severe lack of volunteers. That means, for the time being, that Regional EMS will respond from Middletown to all calls in the town and village, as it normally does for calls that the volunteers can't cover.

Capt. Dan Dodd said it has been daunting to recruit volunteers because of increasing demands on their time, stricter certification requirements and the corps' lack of its own building and crew quarters.

The corps operated out of the Otisville Fire Department's building.

The Mount Hope Town Board will host a meeting at 7:30 tonight at Town Hall to discuss the issue.

From today's (12/19/07 Times-Herald Record)

[trauma74 111]

What a damn shame! I know some people who volunteer there. I am sure that the few remaining members are heart broken. I guess they didnt have the funding to add paid staff and that is why they closed their doors. I hate nothing more then to see a vollie EMS fold.