CANFIELD, Ohio - The Cardinal Joint Fire District could potentially be cutting ties with Boardman when offering EMS services according to a letter sent to Boardman Trustees last week.

This is the second letter sent by the fire department to trustees. The letter states that the provision of EMS services to the township is unfair to Canfield taxpayers, as Boardman's fire department does not provide reciprocal services.

"In essence, the taxpayers of the Cardinal Joint Fire District are subsidizing services to your township," the letter reads.

"[Boardman Fire Department's] dispatch calls for us for an ambulance, we have all three ambulances in town, we're sending an ambulance. And it got to the point where [it was] more and more and more. Okay, so what are you guys going to do to help us, and it was silent," Cardinal Joint Fire District Chief Donald Hutchinson said.

"We did as many in eight months this year as we did in all of 2021," Hutchinson continued.

The letter goes on to reference the initial letter sent back in mid-September, which requested Canfield's Board of Trustees to have a face-to-face meeting to determine how the situation could be remedied.

The letter states that because this meeting never took place, the Cardinal Joint Fire District will discontinue EMS services to the township effective October 15, except in the case of a "mass casualty incident."

The letter states that the department will continue to provide fire engines for structure fires, as Boardman's fire department does offer mutual aid to Canfield for fires.

Boardman trustees were given one final chance to reach out before the October 13 deadline.

Boardman Trustee, Tom Costello tells 21 News Boardman Township Administrator, Jason Loree has reached out since receiving the letter on October 6 voicing his concerns with the potential cutting of mutual aid.

Costello explained that Boardman's primary EMS service is Lane LifeTRANS, with the Cardinal Joint Fire District as a backup option should Lane be occupied.

However, Canfield also utilizes Lane for mutual aid, so if the township were to lose their backup option, it would be down to two options: search for a replacement or ask Lane to provide more assistance to Boardman.'

Lane owner, Joe Lane tells 21 News the company responds to Boardman calls 4,000 times a year and that their response time is around five minutes.

Lane says while it wouldn't be an overwhelming challenge without Cardinal Joint Fire District's mutual aid, they would have to shuffle cars faster.

As of now, the Cardinal Joint Fire District Board Member Richard Russo tells 21 News a tentative meeting between Boardman and Township and the fire district will take place next Thursday. 

Until then, Boardman will have to look elsewhere for backup.