New EMS facility proposed to decrease response times in Ellendale

ELLENDALE, Del. – A brand-new, state of the art EMS facility could soon be a reality for the Town of Ellendale.

The facility would feature three engine bays to house the Ellendale Fire Company’s ambulances, along with a storage area, office space, a lounge, and bunks where EMS employees and volunteers can sleep.

“That’s the main purpose for this building is to one take care of our employees cause we need to take care of those and we’re obligated too, and this process will also give them state of the art facilities,” explained Norman “Jay” Jones, past fire company president and current spokesman.

One of the main purposes of the new facility will be to decrease EMS response times, specifically at night.

Our ambulances at nighttime are actually going up to Lincoln at the north end of our district and that’s where they respond from during the night currently right now because we don’t have the bunk rooms here in the main station of Ellendale,” Jones stated. “We want our EMS to be able to respond as quickly as possible to emergencies.”

The facility is far from breaking ground at this point as a zoning change is required before officials can move forward; however, the planning and zoning commission did recommend council approve the change at their meeting in April. Before that can move forward – the public will get a chance to weigh in.

Town Council President Aaron Moore says he supports the project: “I’ve been a member of the fire company for 24 years now, the Ellendale Fire Company, so yea it’ll be nice for the community to have that building.”

Officials tell us they’ve already acquired the funding they need to get started once the zoning change is final.

A public hearing on the zoning change will take place Wednesday, July 6 followed by a council meeting where the proposal could be voted on and finalized.