Volunteer rescue squad reports rising calls, more volunteers and insurance reimbursement disputes

Chief of Emergency Services Ken Gardener delivered the 2024 annual report for the Spirit/Volunteer Rescue Squad, saying the squad’s membership is growing but that rising call volume, insurer payment practices and regional health‑care gaps are creating operational challenges.

Gardener told council the squad has gained volunteers “almost monthly” and said five volunteers had joined since the original report was circulated. He said the unit’s scratch rate — calls that could not be completed by squad resources — was low: “Our scratch rate was 2%,” he said, adding that figure applied to the roughly…