Recent data has sparked worries regarding the availability of ambulance staff in Tumbler Ridge, British Columbia, following a reduction in operating hours at the local emergency department.
Due to a shortage of doctors, the community in northeast British Columbia has been without evening and weekend emergency services since September.
Mayor Darryl Krakowka mentioned that residents were assured of having a second ambulance to bridge the gap, transporting patients over 100 kilometers to the nearest hospital in Dawson Creek as necessary.
However, information from B.C. Emergency Health Services (BCEHS) reveals that both ambulances are not consistently fully staffed.
Between September and December 2025, BCEHS reported that shifts for one ambulance were filled 92% of the time on average, while the second ambulance was staffed 83% of the time.
According to Krakowka, a former paramedic with nearly a decade of experience in the community, “There are days when we are left without an ambulance or a second ambulance.”
Expressing concern, Krakowka stated, “If I held the position of Minister of Health or Northern Health’s CEO, I would be closely monitoring this situation.”
BCEHS has addressed the issue by hiring 10 full-time paramedics to operate the second ambulance following the reduction in emergency department hours.
During the period between September 1, 2025, and January 7, 2026, ambulance crews in Tumbler Ridge responded to 194 emergency calls and patient transfers. The majority, 158 incidents, were managed locally, while crews from neighboring areas handled the remaining 36 cases.
A BCEHS spokesperson commended the employees for stepping up to enhance ambulance services in Tumbler Ridge during the time of need.
Ambulances stationed in Tumbler Ridge also attended to 34 emergencies and patient transfers in other regional locations, as per BCEHS.
The spokesperson stated, “The nearest available ambulance always responds in case of an emergency.”
Nonetheless, Krakowka highlighted that this situation only adds to the community’s concerns about ambulance availability when needed.
“This was the proposed solution by Northern Health,” Krakowka emphasized.
He emphasized, “By not having full ER services during evenings and weekends and lacking fully staffed ambulances, more lives are potentially at risk.”
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