Boardman, Ohio EMS staffing crisis has mutual aid needed as levy failure worsens shortages

BOARDMAN, Ohio — The Boardman Professional Fire Fighters Local 1176 is warning that the township’s EMS system is on the verge of a “collapse.”

In a letter shared with local media and on social media on Nov. 1, the union said Halloween was a “glaring” example of how serious the staffing problem has become.

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According to the union’s letter, fire crews began Oct. 31 without enough personnel to operate the township’s medic unit. After three medical emergencies between 10 a.m. and shortly after noon, availability problems mounted and continued into the evening, WKBN reported.

The union credited neighboring agencies for mutual aid on multiple calls, including a fatal crash on I-680.

The union said Medic 71, the township’s