In the summer of 2025, the last emergency medical technicians at Fossil Ambulance Service resigned, leaving the City of Fossil unable to provide emergency medical services (EMS) in its region. Spray Ambulance Service temporarily filled the gap but is also struggling with a shortage of volunteers. This crisis underscores the urgent need for a long-term solution to ensure reliable EMS in Wheeler County. The City of Fossil, Wheeler County Emergency Management, and other key interested parties requested assistance from Oregon Solutions to assess whether a collaborative process could help identify a long-term solution. In response, Oregon Solutions conducted an assessment in November and early December 2025 The assessment report identified common themes, outlined possible next steps, and indicated that this situation would benefit from a collaborative approach.
