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Putney Selectboard approves plan to reactivate town EMS, names local leaders
Summary
The Putney Selectboard voted July 24 to accept a plan to reactivate the town’s EMS at the advanced life‑support level, with Evan Martin proposed as EMS captain and a planned reactivation around Aug. 6. The board requested monthly status reports.
The Putney Selectboard voted July 24 to accept a plan to reactivate the town’s emergency medical services, restoring local advanced life‑support coverage that has been suspended since April.
The plan, presented by resident and EMS responder Billy Straus, says Putney EMS will resume operations “on or about August 6th” at the ALS level and names Evan Martin as the proposed EMS captain and Head of Service, with Daniel Garcia and Billy Straus serving as lieutenants. Selectboard members asked for monthly status reports after the board approved the plan.
Straus thanked Rescue Inc., which provided interim coverage after Putney suspended operations in April. "We owe Rescue Inc our deep gratitude for stepping up in this manner," Straus said, noting Rescue Inc supplied a staffed and stocked rescue vehicle that has been staged at the Exit 4 park‑and‑ride. He described the reactivation effort as the result of months of work with local providers, Rescue Inc leadership, and the State EMS office.
Interim Fire Chief Brian Harlow told the board the fire department’s membership has increased and training attendance is strong; he estimated about 25 fire calls in the past month and said roughly eight current Putney firefighters who are Vermont Emergency First Responders would be cleared to respond to medical calls as reactivation proceeds.
The plan also anticipates working with Rescue Inc and the Vermont EMS Academy for regular training and directs recruitment efforts to increase the town’s roster of licensed EMS providers. The board’s motion to accept the 2024 Putney Fire Department EMS reactivation plan passed with an oral vote; the board directed monthly progress updates to be provided at future meetings.
Next steps in the plan include formal clearance of licensed providers, training coordination with regional partners, and active recruitment for additional EMTs and responders. The selectboard did not set an exact final certification date; the plan describes the August 6 timeframe as the target for resumption of local response.
