The By-laws of the BMPOA are available at this link.

posted 01/06/2023 5:43pm

Big Moose, NY (December 13, 2022)

Big Moose Ambulance Company (BMAC) made its last Emergency Medical Service (EMS) call in December 2021. Due to ever challenging volunteer issues and after over 50 years of Community EMS and Rescue Service to the community BMAC was forced to terminate operations and dissolve the corporation.

As part of its evaluation BMAC invested over $20,000 to contract with a well-recognized Emergency Medical Services Consultant to explore the EMS needs of the Central Adirondack area. Their report made various recommendations for management of EMS in the area that could be useful in the future.

Over the years The Big Moose Community has been extremely generous with donations and support of BMAC. After selling its ambulance to Blue Mountain Lake Fire Company and receiving final insurance recovery funds BMAC was left with over $270,000. BMAC is a 501 (c) (3) Not for Profit Corporation and as required by IRS Regulations that remaining funds may only be conveyed to other 501 (c) (3) Corporations.

Following long and thoughtful consideration BMAC the corporation will dissolve and has determined that funds should be distributed to several local Fire and EMS Organizations.

In a presentation made December 10 at the Eagle Bay Fire Department, Big Moose Ambulance presented Big Moose Fire Company (BMFC) with $145,000 that will be used to design and purchase a new Rescue/Fire Boat replacing a Fire Boat that has been in operation for over 60 years. BMFC provides fire suppression and rescue services to northern most Herkimer County including Big Moose Lake, Big Moose Station, Twitchell Lake and Stillwater Lake areas. All the lakes have many camps that are boat access only, requiring the need to evacuate ill or injured citizens and transport fire and EMS Personnel as well as equipment to the scene by boat. The new Rescue/Fire Boat will be 24 ft long and 8.5 ft. wide with 36” dual pontoons. It will be Powered by a 200 HP Yamaha Motor, two 64 HP, 750 GPM Darley water pumps for fire suppression, gurney holder and suitable hose and tools for fire suppression, a Tommy Lift on front to lift patients or other items out of the water and GPS side scan sonar. In addition, it will have an aluminum canopy with clear side curtains, and a fully galvanized trailer so it can be hauled to other lakes. BMFD will support any EMS Operations in its Service Area.

Old Forge Volunteer Ambulance Corps (OFVAC) who provides primary EMS/Ambulance service to the Big Moose area is backed up by Inlet Volunteer Emergency Services (IVES), each received $48,000. Raquette Lake Volunteer Ambulance Squad (RLVAS), a secondary backup, received $19,000 and Eagle Bay Fire Department (EBFD) which is primary backup for BMFD received $10,000.

Sarah Dew BMAC President stated “BMAC is very thankful to the Big Moose Community for its support over the years and looks forward to the other EMS and Fire Agencies providing professional EMS Services to Big Moose in the future.”

Left to Right: Mark Bird - RLFD; George Peterson, Jr.- Inlet Ambulance; Paul A. Scheidelman - Inlet Ambulance; Roger Pratt -Big Moose Ambulance; Sarah Dew - Big Moose Ambulance; Steve Baker - Big Moose Ambulance; Jason Pratt Big- Moose Fire Department; Gary Staab - Old Forge Ambulance; Dan Rivet - Old Forge Ambulance and Shane Beech - Eagle Bay Fire Department.