Penn State Life Lion Emergency Medical Services (EMS) will soon take over the 911 medical emergency response service for several Reading-area communities, including Fleetwood borough and Richmond, Rockland and Ruscombmanor townships. EMS services are currently provided by the EMS division of Fleetwood Volunteer Fire Company, whose leadership worked with local elected officials, including members of Fleetwood borough's Public Safety Committee, to select LifeLion.
Nearly 200 Fleetwood area residents attended a presentation conducted last week by Fleetwood EMS and Life Lion leadership to explain the process leading to the switchover, which will occur later this year.
The coverage area will remain the same and EMS will continue to operate out of its office at the Fleetwood firehouse, which Penn State will lease from the fire company.
The five EMS vehicles — four ambulances and one truck — will remain in use and be stationed at the firehouse, though Penn State will take over responsibility of maintaining and replacing them as needed.
The program's 30 employees — seven full-timers and 23 part-timers — will all be offered jobs with Penn State, said Scott Buchle, program manager for Life Lion EMS, who also spoke at the meeting.