Located in Windber, Pennsylvania, Northern EMS provides professional ambulance service to the people of Windber, Central City and surrounding areas. Northern EMS was originally formed as a partnership between the Windber Fire Company #1 and Scalp Level-Paint Volunteer Fire Company.

In the spring of 1997, the Board of Directors from the Windber Fire Company #1 and Scalp Level-Paint Volunteer Fire Company recognized the need for a full-time professional ambulance service. Several meetings between the two services took place, and it was agreed to combine resources and form what is now known as Northern EMS. After months of work, Northern EMS was established as a partnership on August 1, 1997. Northern EMS immediately began operating a full-time crew 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Shortly after our mutual agreement, the newly organized service was approached by the Central City Ambulance Service to provide ambulance coverage for the people of Central City and surrounding areas. Once again, after doing research and projecting profits, the partnership agreed to merge the Central City Ambulance Service with Northern EMS. Northern EMS signed a contract with Central City Ambulance Service, which stated we would receive all assets of the Central City Ambulance Service, which included the building and ambulances, on the condition that we provide ambulance coverage to the people of the greater Central City area for two years.

At 7:00 A.M. on August 1, 1997, Northern EMS began operations. Northern EMS had in operation two crews, one in Windber and one in Central City, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The Windber crew would alternate weeks, with an ambulance at either the Windber Fire Company #1 or Scalp Level-Paint Fire Company, and the Central City crew was housed at the preexisting ambulance building on Main Street in Central City. The alternation of the Windber crews would continue until the completion of the Windber Fire Company #1's new building at 1620 Somerset Avenue. After the completion of the building, Northern EMS established this location as its permanent headquarters for daily operations.

Not long after the start of operations, it soon became evident that the estimated numbers, both run load and accounts receivable, were not accurate as projected for the Central City area. The cost of operation far outweighed the accounts receivable. Because Northern EMS was contracted to provide services and the hope that this area would become profitable, we continued service to the people of Central City. In August 1999, after the terms of the contract had expired, and a loss of almost $200,000.00, the Board of Directors of Northern EMS resolved to abandon the Central City station. Even though Northern EMS would not man an ambulance in Central City, they would provide service to them from their main station in nearby Windber. Proper notice was given and the Central City building was put up for sale. Just a short time after putting the building on the market, it was sold and as according to the signed contract, all profits from the sale were turned over to Central City Borough.

Northern EMS Began operations in August 1997 with equipment that had been owned and operated by the three preexisting ambulance services. Windber Fire Co. #1 provided their fleet of ambulances, which consisted of a 1993 International and a 1989 Ford. Scalp Level-Paint Volunteer Fire Company made available a 1992 Ford. Along with the building, Northern EMS inherited the use of a 1985 Ford from Central City Ambulance. As luck would have it, due to high miles, age and mechanical failure, the 1989 Ford was placed out of service for good. In the spring of 2001, the 1985 Ford was placed out of service. Because of increasing money problems that came with starting a new business, we were unable to replace that unit. That was until the summer of 2001, when also for mechanical reason the 1992 Ford was placed out of service. At this time, Northern EMS, with a stronger financial portfolio, purchased a used 1991 Ford from Speclin Emergency Vehicle Sales & Service. We also had contracted and ordered a new 2002 American Emergency Vehicles (AEV) Ford type II ambulance. This is the first van (Type II) ambulance to be owned by Northern EMS. In November of 2001, the big day finally arrived; Northern EMS took delivery of their very first New Ambulance. This ambulance, with its color and paint scheme, will provide a consistent scheme for the future. In 2002, the paramedic assist program from Windber Hospital (39-1) stopped providing Advanced Life Support (ALS) assistance. This left many surrounding areas without any ALS assistance. Windber Hospital donated one of the existing ALS response vehicles to Northern EMS. This unit was painted and supplied to reflect our service and was placed in service to provide the surrounding areas with additional ALS service.

Due to the rising cost of operation and health care insurance cuts nation wide, Northern EMS was forced to provide an inexpensive form of transportation for non- emergency trips. In addition to the above aforementioned vehicles, in 1998, Northern EMS purchased a wheelchair accessible transport van. This van provided us with a low cost alternative to expensive non-emergency ambulance trips. Once again due to the high cost of operation and low reimbursements, this and all non-emergency transports were discontinued on January 1st, 2004. The transport van was sold shortly after to Claysburg Area Ambulance.

Also on January 1st, 2004, due to high operation and insurance cost, the partnership between Windber Fire Co #1 and Scalp Level-Paint Volunteer Fire Company was dissolved. Northern EMS was then placed under the sole operation of the Windber Fire Co #1. This permitted the ambulance service to regain non-profit status under Windber Fire Co #1's 501(c)(3).

Northern EMS currently staffs and operates one Advanced Life Support (ALS) emergency crew 24 hours a day, 7 days a week out of Windber Fire Company #1, 1620 Somerset Avenue, Windber, Pennsylvania. This crew responds to an average of 1300 emergencies per year. Northern EMS is the first due ambulance in much of northern Somerset County, including the Windber and Central City areas, and also provides paramedic services to a large area of Bedford County. Northern EMS utilizes the Somerset County 911 system for dispatch and notification of emergencies. Currently Northern EMS has 3 full-time employees and approximately 20 part-time employees.