Prior to July 2022, Jefferson County’s ambulance services operated with a mix of volunteer EMTs, ambulances owned by the 7 volunteer fire companies, and full-time medics and EMTs employed by the county’s Emergency Services Agency (ESA). The ESA was structured as a public corporation, with oversight by a 7-member board appointed by the County Commission.
In July and August of 2022, the County Commission voted to transition the ambulance services to a county department. The first step was to purchase 10 ambulances from the volunteer fire companies. Following a six month project to update the ambulances and equipment, the Commission finalized leases with 4 of the volunteer fire companies on March 1 to begin the transition to a county-run department (outlined below).
