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The New Paltz Rescue Squad will expand its service area starting January 1, 2026, to include Modena. This expansion is part of a $61,591 contract between Ulster County and the Modena Fire District, which will see the squad provide 24-hour emergency medical services from a new station on State Route 32. The station will be equipped with two new vehicles and staffed around the clock.
According to the Daily Freeman, the new location and equipment were funded by a $4.7 million plan developed by Ulster County earlier this year. The plan allocates $2 million for emergency medical services based on performance standards and $2.7 million for contracts with advanced life support providers.
The New Paltz Rescue Squad has committed to responding to calls within 12 minutes for at least 90% of dispatch requests. Failure to meet this standard could result in penalties, including a $100 fine per call and a $1,000 fine for multiple failures in a year. Squad Chief Matthew Goodnow noted that their call volume has more than doubled in the past two years, yet they have maintained a 98% response rate.
The squad, which has three other stations, has been responding to calls in Plattekill without a designated coverage area. Patricia Mood, a spokesperson for the squad, stated that the expansion will allow them to respond more quickly and efficiently to emergencies in the rural areas of Ulster County.
The New Paltz Rescue Squad, a non-profit organization founded in 1973, is dedicated to providing state-of-the-art pre-hospital care. It serves as the primary emergency medical service for the Town and Village of New Paltz, Town of Lloyd, Town of Gardiner, Town of Plattekill, and the Clintondale and Modena fire districts. In 2024, the squad responded to over 6,000 calls and was recognized as the Hudson Valley EMS Agency of the Year.