KEENE, NH – The City of Keene is transitioning to Rescue Inc. for backup ambulance services as DiLuzio Ambulance Service is set to close.

The Keene Fire Department is the primary EMS resource for the city and DiLuzio is the backup service. According to a news release from the city DiLuzio will begin to wind down its operations in the coming weeks, and in an effort to avoid a lapse of backup service, the city is transitioning to Rescue Inc. Backup services are only needed when KFD ambulances are unavailable to respond.

DiLuzio has served the community for over 60 years. Rescue Inc. also serves several other towns in New Hampshire and Vermont, including some communities in the Monadnock Region.

City staff worked with DiLuzio and Rescue Inc. to implement a transition plan that will cover mutual aid services for Keene and the towns that contract with Keene, including Surry, Roxbury, Nelson, and West Chesterfield.

The release says Rescue Inc. will replicate the resources previously provided by DiLuzio, and will temporarily be housed at the Keene Fire Department’s Central and West Keene stations. It also notes that the City will not incur any costs in the transition, or for the services provided moving forward.

The Town of Swanzey also issued a press release Tuesday morning following the news of DiLuzio’s impending closure. Rescue Inc. will also serve the town, based out of Keene, but the release notes the town is actively evaluating multiple options for primary ambulance service.

“Swanzey appreciates the high level of service that the community has received from DiLuzio Ambulance over the last several decades, but I am disappointed that the relationship is ending this suddenly,” Swanzey Board of Selectmen chair Ken Colby said in the release. “Swanzey is taking all steps to ensure that there is no lapse in ambulance transport services.”

“We are very grateful to Diluzio Ambulance Service for their years of service in Keene and for their cooperation and assistance with this transition,” City Manager Elizabeth Dragon said in the release.

Keene’s Fire Chief Don Farquhar says he’s confident in the shift to another provider.

“We always have backup ambulance services in place,” Farquhar said. “Rescue, Inc. will be a great partner for the City to meet community needs going forward – we have some history with them in providing services locally, and we are sure they are fully able to provide this service.”

Currently, the City of Keene does not utilize the relatively newly formed Cheshire EMS on Route 12 in Swanzey, but city staff will continue to evaluate that service’s model as they gain more experience.

Last year, Cheshire County was working with DiLuzio to purchase their assets, but that plan was called off due to unresolvable issues.

Dragon will join WKBK Wednesday morning at 8:10 to provide further information. Listen live on AM 1290, FM 94.1, or click the listen live button at the top of this page.