Elverson EMS and Honey Brook Fire Company Ambulance Association in the northwest corner of Chester County have merged to form the Elverson-Honey Brook Area Emergency Medical Services.

The merger officially took place on January 1, 2015 and will result in enhanced safety as well as a reduction in operating expenses for the 13 municipalities in Chester, Berks and Lancaster Counties serviced by the now-consolidated partnership

The consolidated partnership will have approximately 90 career and volunteer members.  The combined apparatuses and services include five licensed basic life support units, two squad vehicles, one firefighter rehabilitation trailer and one specialized strike team.

Both EMS organizations will retain their premises and equipment, and will share personnel and training expenses..

The Chester County Department of Emergency Services (DES) worked with representatives from Elverson and Honey Brook to inspect the vehicles and the stations to ensure they met the criteria established by the Pennsylvania Department of Health, Bureau of EMS.

Much of the work undertaken by the Chester County DES took place in the final weeks of 2014, allowing the two services to officially come together at the start of 2015.

“Chester County places a tremendous priority on the safety of its citizens, and we strongly endorse moves such as this that combine forces and result in improved services” said Bobby Kagel, Director of the Chester County Department of Emergency Services.

“The reduction in costs for the 13 municipalities affected by the merger is an added benefit.”

The merger took months of planning between Elverson and Honey Brook, and included technical assistance from the Governor’s Center for Local Government Services.

“Both organizations worked hard in meeting the needs of the communities they serve, enhancing Emergency Medical Services to both the residents and visitors of the municipalities,” said Stephen Bobella, Executive Director, Elverson EMS.