BELLINGHAM, Wash. -- People in need of an ambulance anywhere in Whatcom County will continue to be served by a single Medic One system.

County and Bellingham City Councils have both unanimously approved a new, jointly-recommended business model for unified, county-wide emergency medical services.

County Executive Jack Louws and Bellingham Mayor Kelli Linville presented both councils with the new model at their meetings this week.

Linville says the plan would share training and supervision across the county.



She says people who need an ambulance anywhere in the county should expect the same level of service.

The new business model would use four ambulance units serviced by the City of Bellingham, and one-half of a full-time ambulance unit serviced by Fire District 7 in Ferndale.

The plan also recommends creating an oversight board for the Medic One system in 2013.

The County Council ended its agreement for ambulance service with the city in 2010 over transparency and oversight concerns.