Keller EMS will begin ambulance service in Franklin County tomorrow.

Ambulance service in Franklin County will see the dawn of a new day Friday as Keller EMS officially begins operation in the county.

Keller EMS began plans to extend their service area to Franklin County in October after the company received the three-year contract from the Franklin County Commission. Keller follows Shoals Ambulance, which served the county for the past two years.

Shoals Ambulance’s service, Franklin County EMS Committee members agreed during meetings in recent months, had been far from adequate. EMS Committee Chairman Brandon James said the committee is optimistic about the amount and quality of coverage Keller EMS will provide.

“They are a reputable company. They have been around for a while,” James said. “We know a lot of people who work there, and they have great medics and a great system. We feel as a service as a whole, Keller was our best choice.”

Keller EMS will have two office locations – one in Russellville and one in Red Bay. The Russellville office will be located on the campus of Russellville Hospital. The Red Bay office will be inside the Red Bay Fire Department at 112 5th Ave. SE. The company will staff a 24-hour ambulance in both Red Bay and Russellville and will staff an additional 12-hour ambulance in Russellville during peak hours. A second ambulance will be stationed in Red Bay and can quickly be brought into service with an on-call crew.

Bruce Carson, director of emergency services for Keller EMS, said he is ready to hit the ground running and expects a smooth transition.

“After the contract was awarded and the details looked at it, we started moving forward with ordering equipment and supplies we needed and coordinating with EMA and 9-1-1 officials regarding communications and procedural issues we were going to coordinate with them on as far as our day-to-day operations,” Carson said. Keller EMS also had meetings with the County EMS Committee to go over the transition process. “We think we can provide a good service and model it after what we have in Colbert County that’s been successful for so many years … We’ve been in business over 30 years (and) this is just an extension of service we were already providing. We have a great track record in Colbert County, and this operation in Franklin County will just mirror that.”

Carson said he is confident that Keller EMS can meet the standards for service everyone in Franklin County expects, and he anticipates providing service in the county for many years to come.

“We are excited about this new venture,” he added. “We look forward to working with the citizens of Franklin County and helping them in every way we can.”