New Kingsville EMS station meant to keep up with town's growing population

Essex-Windsor Emergency Medical Services has unveiled its new standalone station in Kingsville.

EMS chief Justin Lammers says it was built to keep up with current needs and future growth in and around the town.

"The old Kingsville station we shared with our friends at Kingsville Fire, it was a single bay,it's roughly 20 years that we've been in there," Lammers said. "It was time for more. We've obviously grown a lot in 20 years.

"Just looking at the future, our region's experiencing growth, our call volume is growing and we need to be prepared to respond to that demand now and into the future, which the new Kingsville station is ready for."

Lammers became the new chief of Essex-Windsor EMS as of Oct. 9, taking the reins from retiring former chief Bruce Krauter.

The new station is at 75 Road 2 East. Lammers said the station was officially online and ready for calls as of about 2 p.m.

The 6,414 square-foot station is "more modern" and an estimated four times larger than the space Essex-Windsor EMS previously leased in a building occupied by Kingsville Fire and Rescue, according to a statement by the County of Essex.

The statement went on to say the building has three garage bays, capable of holding six vehicles and can accommodate a crew of 10 people.

Lammers said notably, the ambulance bays in the new station are large enough to comfortably accommodate new, bigger ambulances.

Currently, one ambulance with a crew of twoand one emergency response vehicle with a crew of one are stationed there at any one time.

"It puts us in a position to grow, puts us in a position to respond to the demands and and we have room toenhance," Lammers said.

Essex County Warden Hilda MacDonald says the facility represents a progressive approach by local EMS and was completed "within budget and on time."

The project cost $4.35 million and construction began in 2022.