Edom Volunteer Fire Department An ambulance will be stationed at an Edom fire station within weeks after Van Zandt County commissioners reached an agreement last year with Champion EMS of Longview, according to a press release. "This is a significant change for the people of the area, who have grown accustomed to lengthy waits due to the nearest ambulance being stationed 13 miles from downtown Edom, and several miles farther for the large number who live in outlying areas."

Edom Mayor Barbara Crow said a contract between Van Zandt County and Champion, set to begin on Feb. 1, allows for an ambulance to be stationed at Edom Volunteer Fire Department on FM 279 east of town.

"Champion, a division of Trinity Mother Frances Hospital, agreed to service the northern area, the Ben Wheeler and Edom areas, and to provide an additional 'floating' unit," she said. "When the new Edom station No. 1 was built, the plans were made to accommodate EMS quarters, and they are currently being built. This new arrangement will afford Edom residents faster service."

Edom's other fire station is at Callendar Lake, on FM 2339 west of town.

The deal with Champion, Crow said, came after Van Zandt County commissioners last year initially sought to deliver ambulance service to unincorporated portions of the county.

"They were trying to get service to an area in the north of the county that was underserved. When a large group of concerned citizens attended (a commissioners meeting), they decided to look into the situation a bit more," she said. "They appointed a committee formed with the commissioners and two citizens from each precinct."

>From there, the county accepted that committee's recommendation to contract Champion.

"Appointees from the Edom-Ben Wheeler area were Dr. Wayne Collins and Kerry Hargrove," the press release said. "After the award of the contract, the two men began in earnest negotiations with Champion EMS to station a full-time ambulance at the community's fire station. An agreement was reached, and the space the crew will occupy is already undergoing finish-out construction."

Champion serves 13 counties and 18 communities, including southwest Van Zandt County, according to its Web site. It operates 31 ambulances and employs 261 people.

Additional information on the contract was not immediately available from Van Zandt County officials.