First, the Rowley Volunteer Fire Protection Association will end 82 years of dedicated service to the community. Under a reorganization plan forced by the Board of Selectmen, the volunteers will be replaced by call firefighters employed directly by the Town. The RFD will continue to use the equipment and station owned by the RVFPA under a month-by-month agreement until permanent arrangements are finalized. Many of the current volunteers have agreed to stay on under the new management, although some have taken this as the proper moment to retire.
Second, the Town of Rowley will end a 30+ year association with American Medical Response and its predecessor companies in the provision of emergency medical services. Rowley signed its first paid contract with Peter Poor Ambulance in 1975; subsequent mergers and buyouts brought Amcare Ambulance, Chaulk Ambulance, and eventually AMR into the community. Starting tonight, EMS will be provided by Action Ambulance of Wilmington, MA with paramedic units responding from Linebrook Station and Cable Medical in Ipswich as well as Graf Rd in Newburyport.
