As 2022 gets underway, the Keystone Valley Fire Department has reported its call statistics for 2021. We thank our Volunteers who have placed countless hours into serving the Communities in which we serve as well as the Career Staff who respond day in and day out serving our community.

In EMS, 2021 was a busy year. In particular, the emergency medical services (EMS) operation set a record for annual calls for the year with 1,542 dispatched emergencies -- that represents the busiest year in the organization's history and exceeded the previous record with Parkesburg and Pomeroy EMS. 2021 EMS calls increased over all previous years. Behind those numbers in 2021 were significant factors: the role played by the pandemic, and the announced closing of the Brandywine Hospital which was our most transported hospital in our area.

On the fire side, the Company was dispatched to 307 calls - these include a variety of emergencies like fires, automatic alarms, auto accidents, as well as requests to assist neighboring Fire Companies. Of those calls, there were building fires which allowed for quick responses and several saves to resident’s dwellings. Auto Accidents did increase with a response larger response of auto accidents, several were confirmed entrapment calls requiring the use of extrication equipment ("jaws of life" tools) to remove victims. Additionally, several of those calls were fatal motor vehicle accidents which are the hardest incidents to deal with in the Emergency Services.

As KVFD looks ahead to this year, call volume is already busy. This is particularly true for EMS, where the closed hospital means all ambulance patients are transported to emergency departments much further away. These increased transport times have a ripple effect on KVFD operations with ambulances out of the district and not available for the next call for extended periods, and this is also true for our neighboring services in Westwood and Christiana Lancaster County, this is a system-wide problematic issue being addressed by EMS Leaders and Fire Officers County-Wide.

The Keystone Valley Fire Department is a volunteer organization supplemented by Career Staff for EMS. This is a combination department, meaning the organization is staffed by both volunteer and career employees. Fire calls are handled by volunteer firefighters. On the EMS side, most calls are handled with career emergency medical technicians (EMTs), supplemented from time to time by volunteers. The Fire Company covers approximately 48 square miles of territory within the Fire District of Keystone Valley Regional Fire District. We also cover 100% of Sadsbury Township (Chester County) for Emergency Medical Services.

KVFD is constantly looking to improve its service and as well accepting new membership. The Volunteer Fire Service is at crucial changing point and services are losing the volunteers it once had. The current times have allowed for a increased decline in support and lose of time for volunteers. We continue to Pride ourselves on the members we have and thank everyone and their families for allowing your loved one to continue to support his or her community.