Mercy Flight gets welcome as it starts service in Orleans County
Provided photo: Pete Stritzinger (left), president of the Albion Exempts Club, and Mercy Flight EMS BLS Crew Chief David Bertsch are shown on Jan. 1 when the Exempts dropped off a brunch at the Mercy Flight base at 239 South Main St.
ALBION – Mercy Flight has started providing ambulance services for seven Orleans County towns.
The seven towns accepted Mercy Flight’s bid to be the primary ambulance provider for Albion, Barre, Carlton, Gaines, Clarendon, Murray and Kendall. Mercy Flight takes over from Monroe Ambulance which had the contract in 2023 and 2024.
Mercy Flight has two 24/7 BLS ambulances and one 24/7 paramedic fly car. One of the ambulances is posted at the former Fancher-Hulberton-Murray fire hall with the other vehicles at the former COVA base in Albion. Many of the former COVA staff are back working in Orleans with Mercy Flight.
“We’ve got a crew of 5 EMS professionals dedicated to central and eastern Orleans around the clock,” said Scott Wooton, vice president and treasurer for Mercy Flight.
Mercy Flight has 20 “full-time equivalents” working that schedule. With part-timers and vacation coverages, Mercy Flight has about two dozen employees working in Orleans County.
“It’s been quite a busy start, but our employees are very excited to be back,” Wooton said.
