McDowell County EMS

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McDowell County EMS

Agency Director: William Kehler
Deputy Director: Adrienne Rivera Jones

McDowell County Emergency Medical Service began its operation on July 1, 1977.

EMS began its operation with a total of 16 employees with 5 employees working each shift. In the early days of the organization the crew quarters were located in County Administration Building. In 1978 EMS moved into a new station located on South Garden Street where it served as the main station until June 2, 2022. In 1989 a second station was added in the Old Fort community. This station was located within the Rocket Building at Old Fort. In 2002 McDowell County Board of Commissioners approved the construction of a new Old Fort EMS Station on US 70 West in Old Fort. In October of 2010, EMS Station 3 located in the Nebo community was built through a joint project with the Nebo Volunteer Fire Department. EMS Station 4 located on US 221 North in Marion opened on March 16th. Emergency Services Headquarters, located at 129 Barnes Rd. in Marion was opened on June 2, 2022. Today McDowell County EMS paramedics remain on the cutting edge of Emergency Medicine with access to state of the art medical equipment, medical protocols that meet national standards in emergency medicine, and training programs that provide excellent opportunities for professional development. McDowell EMS is committed to being an active player within the community promoting injury prevention programs and public awareness on a variety of health related topics. In July of 2013 McDowell EMS implemented the first Community Care Paramedic Program in Western North Carolina. Today… just as it did 45 years ago, McDowell County EMS and its 63 professional employees take great pride in providing Emergency Medical Care to the citizens of McDowell County. We look forward to continue serving the citizens of this county and improving the level of service we provide.

08/08/2026

McDowell County Emergency Services congratulates Sheriff Ricky Buchanan on his recent retirement and thanks him for his many years of dedicated service to our community.

Emergency Services Director Will Kehler recently presented Sheriff Buchanan with the McDowell County Emergency Services Director’s Award in recognition of his strong partnership, leadership, and commitment to Emergency Services and the Emergency Operations Center.

Emergency Services Director Will Kehler states “Sheriff Buchanan has been a solid partner who we have always been able to rely on prior to, during, and after emergencies. Our teams worked hand in hand to ensure the safety of the residents and visitors of McDowell County. We wish him and his family the very best.”

Congratulations, Sheriff Buchanan, and thank you for your service!

04/08/2026

Roads will shut down at 5pm. Please come join us from 7-9pm!

26/07/2026

🚗🧸 Congratulations to our newest Certified Child Passenger Safety Technicians! 👏

McDowell County Emergency Services is proud to continue expanding our Child Passenger Safety Program, helping keep our community’s youngest passengers safe on every ride.

Did you know our headquarters is an official Car Seat Checking Station? Whether you need a car seat installed, checked for proper fit, or have questions about your child’s next seat, our certified technicians are here to help.

📍 Stop by Monday–Friday, or call to schedule an appointment:
📞 828-652-3241

A properly installed car seat can make all the difference. Let us help you make sure your little one is riding safely. 💙

22/07/2026

Nearly half of all car seats are installed or used incorrectly.

That’s why we’re excited to host a Child Passenger Safety (CPS) Technician Certification Course right here at McDowell Emergency Services—and we’re inviting our community to benefit from it!

On July 24, certified CPS technicians and technician candidates will be providing FREE car seat checks to help make sure your little ones are riding as safely as possible.

✔ No appointment needed
✔ Free car seat inspections
✔ Hands-on safety education
✔ Open to all caregivers

Bring your car, your car seat, and your questions. A few minutes today could save a lifetime.

📍 McDowell Emergency Services
⏰ 10 AM–12 PM
🚗 First come, first served

21/07/2026

A fun day at McDowell County Emergency Services! Today, we welcomed a local homeschool co-op for a hands-on learning experience all about emergency medicine and preparedness.

Paramedic Katlyn Davis led the group as the kids learned CPR, Stop the Bleed techniques, and toured our headquarters. They got an up-close look at our ambulances, equipment, and the people who serve our community every day. Of course, no EMS education day would be complete without a visit from Tippy the Traumasaurus!

We love opportunities like this to teach lifesaving skills and hopefully inspire the next generation of helpers.

A big thank you to Katlyn and all of the staff who helped make today such a success!

16/07/2026

grass-fed vibes only.
At Station 2, making friends with the cows is a rite of passage. Bonus points if they’ll let you pet them.

📸: Paramedic Megan Ziegler

15/07/2026

5:30 AM Update: I-40 is now open. A special thanks to Marion Fire Dept, Glenwood Fire Dept. , NCSHP, NCDOT, and McDowell Sheriff’s Office for their response to this incident.

I-40 westbound at Sugar Hill Rd. (Exit 81) is currently shutdown due to a large tree blocking both lanes of travel. Emergency personnel are currently on the scene diverting traffic off of I-40. If you are traveling westbound on I-40 this morning please use an alternate route until this incident is cleared.

Address

Website

http://www.mcdowellems.com/

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