Serving the community since 1975, Clay County Ambulance Service has long been the primary provider of emergency medical care for residents across the county. With a small, dedicated staff and the limited resources typical of rural EMS agencies, the service has continued for over 50 years to respond to emergencies, provide transport, and deliver critical care to those in need.
Clay County Ambulance Service placed a new ambulance into service in March 2026, enhancing its ability to respond to emergencies across the county. As the unit begins operations, residents may soon hear “Clay 15” dispatched to calls in their area.
The new unit is a 2025 Ford Transit All-Wheel Drive ambulance, fully equipped to operate at the Advanced Life Support (ALS) level. It features modern equipment, including a Lifepak 15 cardiac monitor, LUCAS II automatic CPR device, Stryker power load system, Kenwood VHF P25 and UHF communications, and Whelen high-visibility emergency lighting.
The ambulance was purchased with partial funding from the 2025 West Virginia Legislative budget for EMS services, along with required county matching funds.
“Funding was provided from the 2025 Legislative budget. Speaker Hanshaw was instrumental in assisting with this funding for EMS agencies across WVa., with each county receiving a little over $90k, which required counties to match this with 30% county-level funding. We were able to do so with our county EMS funding on hand. The total cost of this ambulance is around $160k once all equipment was purchased. This is a true asset to the county and will allow us to continue to improve the level of services we provide to the citizens of Clay County and the level of service they deserve,” said Duane Legg of the Clay County Commission.
Officials say the addition of the new ambulance will help improve emergency response across the county, bring the service more in line with other county EMS agencies, and provide crews with a safer, more reliable vehicle. The unit replaces part of an aging fleet, helping ensure continued service for the citizens of Clay County.
