Ayer Fire Secures $845,000 State Grant to Boost Ambulance Staffing

AYER — February 5, 2026 — Ayer fire department secures $845,000 state grant to fund daytime ambulance staffing after hospital closure. Fire Chief Johnson and Deputy Chief Yanis Zekovitz presented to the Finance Committee on February 5, detailing a plan to use the 18-month Nashoba Valley hospital-impact grant for two additional EMS personnel on shift from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., $30,000 for paramedic school, scheduling software, and per diem onboarding costs for up to 15 new hires. The department ran 3,356 calls last year — up 338 from the prior year — with ambulance service revenue climbing to $864,000, and both transport ambulances now exceeding 100,000 miles. The Finance Committee also received a capital planning update showing the general fund capital request dropped to $646,000, down from $1.6 million the prior year, with three PFAS filtration projects totaling $520,000 funded entirely from a legal settlement.