History of Tri-County EMS

Neighbors Helping Neighbors

It's hard to imagine a community without an ambulance service, but up until 1974 sadly our community didn't have this wonderful service.  Tri-County EMS was organized in 1975 as a non-profit corporation owned by the townships and cities belonging to Tri-County EMS.  Originally, Tri-County EMS consisted of five squads:  Karlstad, Greenbush, Badger, Middle River, and Newfolden.  In 2013, Greenbush and Badger memberships were terminated by the district and their service area was ceded to LifeCare of Roseau.

The 1975 original Steering Committee consisted of George Wikstrom, Jr./Karlstad, Dale Grandstrand/Karlstad, Richard Collins/Karlstad, Stuart Folland/Karlstad, Donald Dagen/Kennedy, James Pederson/Kennedy, Vic Johnson/Lake Bronson, Earl Hougard/Strandquist, Erling Nesteby/Greenbush and Maurice Bertilrud/Greenbush.

Tri-County's primary service area consists of 24 townships and 8 cities. Tri-County EMS covers 904 total square miles in their primary service area. Kittson County-252 miles, Marshall County-652 miles.  The total approximate population in our primary service are is 4105. Kittson County-1735 persons, Marshall County-2370 persons.

Tri-County is currently an EMSRB State of Minnesota Training Agency for EMT Basic, EMT Refresher, First Responder and First Responder Refresher. Each Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) must take and pass an original training course of 120 hours and take a 24 hour refresher class every two years. First Responders must take and pass an original training course of 40 hours and take a 16 hour refresher class every two years. Each EMT and First Responder is re-certified in CPR, Bloodborne Pathogens/Infection Control and Emergency Driving annually.

From its founding, Tri-County EMS has remained a 100% volunteer organization, funded completely by generous donations given mainly by citizens and businesses connected to our township.  The Squad now answers more than 300 calls per year.