DeLong updates ambulance status in Milton-Freewater

MILTON-FREEWATER – Umatilla County Emergency Manager Sage Delong is holding meetings with those involved in the walk-out of nine employees at the Milton-Freewater Valley Ambulance District. The action was taken yesterday morning.

DeLong said that by Monday evening he had determined that there is one ambulance operating in Milton-Freewater. He said that if that ambulance is out on a call, ambulances from other districts will provide backup.

DeLong had said that due to proximity the first call for support would go to East Umatilla Fire and Rescue. He has also informed the Umatilla Tribal Fire Department, Pendleton Fire & Ambulance, and Umatilla County Fire District No. 1 of the problem.

“They all said, ‘Just tell us how we can help,’” DeLong said of the surrounding agencies.

Rick Saager is the manager of services for the Milton-Freewater Ambulance District. He is under contract with a board of directors for that ambulance service area which, in turn, is funded by Umatilla County.

The letter notifying citizens in the district of the walkout is below:

“Effective 8/13/2024 at 10 a.m., all career firefighters, EMT’s, and Paramedics have resigned and will no longer be responding to calls of any nature. We believe that this is in the best interest of all staff and the community.

“This departure is due to multiple safety and ethical issues within the department that have not been addressed by management.

“In the best interests of the community, the staff has coordinated with Umatilla County Emergency Management to minimize a disruption in service.” It was signed by nine individuals

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Elkhorn Media Group

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