St. Joseph County may end ambulance contract for rural areas

SOUTH BEND, Ind. (WNDU) - St. Joseph County commissioners are considering not renewing a contract that provides ambulance services to rural areas outside South Bend city limits.

The agreement between the county and city has provided advanced life support coverage to residents in outlying areas for years. The partnership and emergency care it provides may end, though no official decision has been made.

The potential change is raising concerns among first responders who work in affected communities.

Ron Baker, a firefighter running for Centre Township trustee, said he wants to alert residents about the possible loss of service.

“I want to make people aware of that the ambulance service may be leaving the rural areas and this paramedic service from South Bend is needed,” Baker said. “If it goes away, these smaller communities are going to have to join other territories like center and green to prove an ambulance service for their communities.”

Baker is currently running for Centre Township trustee.