September 26, 2019 — As the Board of Supervisors considers two new ordinances that would levy taxes for fire and ambulance services, KZYX has been sitting down with ambulance service providers to find out what kind of conditions they’re working with. OTday we’ll hear from Linda Marshall, an EMT and ambulance director for the Covelo Fire Department. I counted three plaques for outstanding service in her office in a building on Covelo Road that used to be a bowling alley. Five volunteer EMTs rely on three ambulances as they respond to about 400 medical calls per year, more than half of the 700 calls the department takes annually.
The newest ambulance, three inches taller and a foot wider than the older models, just went into service on September 27th at the Round Valley Health Fair.
Marshall was pleased to provide a tour of the gleaming new ambulance, but she says the biggest need is more volunteer EMTs. “You’ll miss us when we’re gone,” she remarked.