KEENE, NH – The City of Keene and Cheshire County have officially entered into an agreement for Cheshire EMS to provide backup ambulance service for the Keene Fire Department.

The city executed a one-year contract with the county’s new EMS service, which will provide backup ambulance service to Keene at no cost, as is the case with other Cheshire EMS towns, according to a release from the city. The contract does include a fee for paramedic intercept services as needed.

City Manager Elizabeth Dragon and County Administrator Chris Coates will meet quarterly to review operational performance, response data, resource needs and gaps, and all other matters relating to the collaboration. Keene’s Fire Chief will also work with the Chief of Cheshire EMS to develop joint standard operating procedures and protocols for matters related to operational effectiveness.

The need for the city to find a new backup service arose in April of 2023 when DiLuzio Ambulance Service closed. The city did temporarily use Rescue Inc. out of Brattleboro as a backup but needed to find a more permanent solution.

Originally, when the County was looking into launching the service it was going to purchase DiLuzio and build off of that, but that plan fell through, and the County pivoted toward building a new service using American Rescue Plan funding.

A former DiLuzio employee, who now works for Rescue Inc., filed a complaint with the US Department of Treasury alleging misuse of ARPA funds on the county’s part to establish Cheshire EMS. Keene Fire Chief Donald Farquhar signed onto the complaint as well but claims he did so as a private citizen and not in his capacity as fire chief. Coates said Farquhar’s participation in the complaint was disheartening, as it occurred as the city and the county were negotiating a contract.

Coates said the complaint is full of misinformation, and said the county filled a crucial gap in healthcare in the region. As of last week, the county had not been contacted by any federal official regarding the complaint.

Dragon did express concerns on behalf of the city regarding the county’s financial model, but said ultimately, that matter is outside of the city’s scope.

“The financial viability of the County’s services as its grant funds are depleted and the potential impact on the County’s share of the property tax burden continue to
be of concern as the city evaluates long-term community needs,” the release says. “Whether or not the County may be in violation of any grant requirements or State or federal laws or regulations, however, as recently alleged by parties separate from the City organization, are matters to be determined by other agencies.”

Coates says the county’s goal has always been to ensure the community is supported.

“Our goal has and will always be delivering the highest level of care and service to those in need, we are happy this mission will be expanded to additional Cheshire County residents,” Coates said. “We look forward to our continued partnership with the City of Keene.”

Dragon noted that the transition has been stressful since April of 2023, but noted that the city’s top priority is ensuring access to EMS service and lauded both Rescue Inc. and the Keene Fire Department for their service.

“The backup agreement with Cheshire EMS ensures that Keene residents and
visitors will have access to the care they need when they need it. We owe Rescue, Inc. a debt of gratitude for continuously going above and beyond to stabilize EMS services for the region and assisting Keene continually while we worked on a longer-term plan,” Dragon said in the release.

While Farquhar has been under some scrutiny for his role in the complaint, Dragon says he’s gone above and beyond to ensure the community’s access to service.

“I also want to recognize our Fire Chief, Don Farquhar, who has been under enormous pressure to ensure continuation of services since April. He has worked tirelessly to find real solutions to every challenge we have faced. I also want to recognize our talented Keene Fire Department team who we rely on every day to
provide professional quality care to everyone in the region regardless of backup agreements,” Dragon said.