To the Editor:

It is with sincere regret that the Board of Directors of Western Turnpike Rescue Squad announces that effective Dec. 3, 2018, WTRS ceased being the provider of ambulance service to the town of Guilderland. You may be aware that the town of Guilderland has expanded its Emergency Medical Services, which until recently was limited to providing paramedic response to now include transport of patients to area hospitals, the service previously provided by WTRS.

Since its beginnings almost 80 years ago as a volunteer ambulance company, WTRS has faithfully provided town residents with timely, high-quality care. Over time, the availability of volunteer staff diminished and growth in the town required that we hire qualified staff to carry out our mission. Through careful and prudent management, WTRS has remained financially strong over the years.

However, the hard work and dedication of our staff and volunteers notwithstanding, demands of the town for additional service levels that we cannot cost effectively provide as a not-for-profit organization forced the board to reluctantly conclude that it should work with the town to assure a seamless transition and continuation of high quality EMS services this town has come to rely on.

While our operations have ceased, our offices will still be staffed for several months on a part-time basis. You can contact us by calling 518-456-3600, or my emailing . We will get back to you as soon as we possibly can.

If you were a patient of ours, please know that your records will be kept as required by applicable laws and with the utmost confidentiality. If you are in need of your records for any reason, and you require them after our offices have closed, you will be able to contact the Town of Guilderland EMS department, at Town Hall, for your records.

In closing, we want you to know that serving this town, and its residents, has been an honor. WTRS was privileged to be your neighbor and while we wish this letter weren’t necessary, we are confident that you will continue to be served well in the future.

So, thank you to the many selfless volunteers who responded to calls regardless of the time of day or weather, thank you to the dedicated WTRS staff that has worked so hard to meet the needs of the community, thank you to the many individuals who responded to our annual fund drive over the years, and thank you all for your unwavering support over the last eight decades.

Thank you for allowing us to be a part of your community.

Alan Fitzpatrick, President

Ron Bass, Director

Robert DuBois​, Vice President

Richard Sloma​, Director

Kris Vogt, Secretary

Benjamin Weaver, Director

Mary Frye, Treasurer

Angela Datri​, Director

Western Turnpike Rescue Squad