Kamas, Utah – Emergency Services in Fredonia Affected by Arizona Regulations

The small town of Fredonia has taken action following a recent decision by Arizona officials that prohibits Utah emergency services from handling 911 calls. This practice had been ongoing for over four decades.

For years, Canab, Utah, which is only seven miles away from Fredonia, has responded to emergency requests from the town. The nearest city in Arizona is, interestingly, about 32 miles away from Colorado City.

The emergency declaration noted that, “Due to geographical distancing, all other emergency medical services occurring within Arizona (both ground and air) have exceeded a 45 minutes’ response time from Fredonia.”

In early July, the Arizona Department of Health Services denied an emergency service application from Kane County, making it illegal for them to operate ambulances in Arizona. Local officials mentioned they hadn’t received any official word regarding this change, which has raised alarms among residents, some calling it a “life and death” situation.

During a meeting on July 4, Coconino County announced that Colorado City Services would temporarily handle emergencies in Fredonia. They also clarified that Kane County EMS could respond if requested by law enforcement. County representatives indicated that ambulance services are operational and looking into a long-term solution.

However, not long after, the town’s mayor and council declared a local emergency, highlighting that many residents are elderly and could face serious consequences without timely ambulance services.

This declaration allows the town to request help from law enforcement agencies or organizations, regardless of the state rules in place.

The declaration stated, “These actions taken by the Arizona DHS quickly put the lives, health and safety of the citizens of the town of Fredonia at risk.”

The emergency status will continue until the mayor decides that safety conditions for Fredonia are no longer critical.

On the same day, Kane County was informed that it could provide services to Fredonia when a “serious accident” occurred, and they dispatched EMS. Initially, there was a sense of optimism that the issue could be resolved; however, they later referred to the situation as “still evolving.”

A Kane County official commented on the recent adjustments in Arizona, mentioning, “A lot of work has been done since Thursday to provide a temporary and partial solution, but a more permanent and comprehensive revision is needed.”

Efforts to reach the Arizona Department of Health Services for comment on the denial of Kane County’s application have not received a response.