Paramedics making up Chautauqua County’s Emergency Medical Services Program, commonly known as the fly-car system, concluded orientation Friday at Emergency Services’ headquarters in Mayville. Three full-time and six part-time paramedics have been hired to operate three advanced life support vehicles. They will be stationed in Ashville, Arkwright and Gerry.

Kevin Peebles, project coordinator, and Mike Volpe, county senior paramedic, will man a vehicle stationed in Mayville to bring the number of fly-cars in the county to four.

County Executive Vince Horrigan visited the paramedics to discuss how the program will impact Chautauqua County residents. Horrigan said the county has 42 “exceptional fire departments,” but noted the demand for EMTs and the need for fast, life-saving care is critical.

“I’m very excited about it and I’m very thankful to have this incredible team that will deliver this life-saving care,” Horrigan said. “I can think of nothing more important for taxpayers than when they pick up the phone when they need help and dial 911 and know someone’s on the way.”

Mike Volpe, county senior paramedic, shows paramedics some of the equipment that will be contained within the fly-car. P-J photo by Jimmy McCarthy

Emergency Services Director Julius Leone said implementation of the fly-car program looks to create a blended response system with the volunteer fire service and Alstar EMS. The type of response to a call, whether it be a fly-car, a local fire department or Alstar EMS, will be determined by a dispatcher based on the care needed. Leone said two types of support — basic or advanced — can be offered based on the dispatcher’s conversation with a caller.

“Maybe we’ll be the first ones to back (a fire department) up,” Leone said. “Another department may choose Alstar if they’re closer to the city of Jamestown or Dunkirk to be their first responder. That’s all determined through the dispatch system.”

The fly-car system initiated on a small scale in the Mayville area with the hiring of Peebles and Volpe earlier in the year. Volpe said they’ve handled 33 incidents to date, and Peebles said the average response time to calls has been three to three-and-a-half minutes.

“This will do a lot of good in the county,” Peebles said. “It’s been a long time in the making.”

See tomorrow’s edition of The Post-Journal for complete coverage.