A FEW WORDS ABOUT US
In 1967 the first step for what is now KCEMS began. At that time the funeral homes supplied basic first aid and transport across the county.
With new federal funding Klickitat Valley Hospital (KVH) sent their first EMT’s off to school in 1974 to Yakima Valley Community College. Skyline Hospital also sent their personnel Clark College in Vancouver Washington.
With a newly adopted paramedic program in Seattle, KVH and Skyline had EMTs enroll in the program, Dennis Barnes, Charley George and Mark Bryan.
In 1993 Dr. Russel Smith became the Medical Program Director for the county where he has remains today. With new paramedics under Dr. Smith, the county EMS system progressed dramatically, outpacing neighboring counties both in Washington and Oregon.
In 2017 the District took the next step to transition to become the employer of all the employees and looked to hire a full time Operations Manager by 2018. Mark respectfully declined this opportunity as he wanted primarily be a paramedic and step down from a management role.
It has been a rapidly changing journey and while many of the personnel have changed over the years, one thing has remained constant. Sick or injured citizens of Klickitat County call 911 and an ambulance responds to offer the best treatment we are able to render.
Klickitat County Ambulance continues to look to improve our skills and techniques where we can, and aspire to be the most efficient we can.