Oologah - A Green Country town is worried over its ambulance service and whether it will continue.

It's happening in Oologah-Talala, about 20 miles north-northeast of Tulsa in Rogers County. The community has had its ambulance service for nine years, making runs on everything from car wrecks to cardiac arrest.

But some are worried. They fear the service won't continue without the passage of a one-million dollar bond proposal that's up for vote on Tuesday. And, it has the Northwest Fire Department fighting more than just fires.

"They're saying we're in opposition," says Fire Chief David Puckett. "That's just wrong. All of a sudden, if they don't get it, they're closing down."

"At some point, that would be correct with this service being up and running like it is," says Susan Baker with Oologah-Talala EMS.

Baker says the one-million dollar bond issue is needed for equipment upgrades and, among other things, to put one of two 24-hour ambulances back in service.

"The quality that is maintained here can continue to be maintained and actually further improve equipment and service back to the community at a higher level of care," Baker says.

As ambulance services statewide are being cut because of financial challenges. Towns like Oologah are struggling to try to keep what they have. One man we spoke with says Vinita had a similar problem.

"They've lost their ambulance service a couple of times, then someone else comes in subsidized it and try to get it back up and started again."

"It's reaching a crisis level in the state of Oklahoma with ambulance services shutting down," Puckett says.

He says no matter which way residents vote, the department would be willing to acquire ambulances and run them out of the fire department.

"Do the exact same thing for the exact three mills that they already have in effect right now, won't have to go out for bond issues to raise bonds," Puckett says.

The vote will be held Tuesday and will in some way change the ambulance service in Oologah.

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