McCandless-Franklin Park Ambulance Authority in talks with AHN on new ambulance post

The McCandless-Franklin Park Ambulance Authority is in discussions with AHN Wexford Hospital in Pine to construct a multiuse facility on its grounds there.

The proposed facility is an EMS station and training center. The EMS station would include a four-bay garage to house MFPAA ambulances and AHN paramedic response vehicles. The upstairs would include living quarters to include offices, bunk rooms, a kitchen and other essential space.

The training center is aimed to be capable of hosting training for all types of first responders — EMS, fire, and police.

“This project is exciting for MFPAA as our current station in Pine is at the Wexford Volunteer Fire Company on North Chapel Drive. As both EMS and fire operations have grown, we are in need of a change to ensure both agencies can best accomplish our critical tasks. Having the location at AHN Wexford as our third station would serve our entire service very well from a strategic perspective,” said Chris Dell, chief of the MFPAA.

Pine Supervisor Jack Donahue, township Manager Jason Kratsas and public safety director Bruce Hezlep attended a meeting with AHN leadership in late September to talk about the potential for the facility.

“Dr. Klapper, the president of AHN Wexford, has been collaborating with Chris Dell and his team. This proposed EMS station and training facility represents a major step forward in delivering high-quality, around-the-clock emergency care for our community. It would give McCandless-Franklin Park Ambulance Authority crews the environment they need to thrive. That’s a game changer for public safety and an opportunity to better serve our community,” Hezlep said.

There currently is no projected date for the start of the project. The MFPAA is in the process of searching for and applying for grant funding.

“AHN Wexford and MFPAA have been great partners on numerous initiatives, and we are looking forward to the same with this project,” Dell said.