Burns Flat EMS officially ceased ambulance operations effective June 1, 2026, following the resignation of all medical personnel and ongoing challenges related to staffing shortages, burnout, and low wages.
The closure was announced through a public service statement released by the Washita County Clerk’s Office and followed a social media announcement from Burns Flat EMS stating that every medic employed by the service had submitted their resignation.
According to EMS personnel, emergency medical technicians working for the volunteer ambulance service were paid $4.58 per hour, with additional compensation provided only when responding to a 911 call during their shift. Co-directors reportedly split $300 per month to help keep the service operating.
Burns Flat EMS serves a rural community of around 2,000 residents, where emergency medical responders often provide critical pre-hospital care before transporting patients to medical facilities located miles away.
In a statement posted online, Burns Flat EMS expressed appreciation to the community while outlining the realities many rural emergency medical services face.
“Unfortunately, EMS in small towns is often expected to do everything with almost nothing,” the statement read. “Rural EMS agencies across the country continue to struggle with staffing shortages, burnout, low reimbursement rates, and wages that simply do not reflect the sacrifices made by emergency responders every day.” The statement emphasized that the decision
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was not intended to assign blame, but rather to provide transparency about the challenges facing rural EMS providers.
“If love alone could have kept the doors open, Burns Flat EMS would have survived forever,” the statement continued. “Every siren, every late-night call, every missed holiday, every life saved, and every hand held in someone’s worst moment was done because we cared deeply about this community.”
County officials acknowledged the difficult circumstances surrounding the closure.
“We know this was not an easy decision by the medics or the Town of Burns Flat leaders,” a public service announcement from Washita County officials stated.
Under Oklahoma law, county commissioners are responsible for facilitating emergency medical services through municipalities, hospital authorities, or private organizations. To ensure continued emergency coverage, the Town of Burns Flat has entered into a mutual aid agreement with Sinor EMS, which operates from Clinton, Sayre, and Hobart.
Beginning June 1, Sinor EMS will provide ambulance coverage for Burns Flat, Foss, and Sentinel. Officials say the arrangement is considered temporary while discussions continue regarding a long-term solution for emergency medical services in the area.
At this time, county officials say they do not know how the transition may affect response times.
The Oklahoma State Department of Health (OSDH) said it was not aware of the staffing changes prior to the announcement because EMS agencies are not required to report staffing issues to the state. OSDH officials also noted that employee compensation is determined locally by each EMS agency or municipal authority.
Regarding financial assistance, OSDH stated that funding opportunities are limited to programs authorized through the Oklahoma Emergency Response Systems Stabilization and Improvement Revolving Fund and the Trauma Care Assistance Revolving Fund, which provide support for equipment, training, and reimbursement for uncompensated services.
County commissioners said discussions with Burns Flat leadership are ongoing as they work to identify a permanent solution for emergency medical coverage in the community.
Despite the closure of Burns Flat EMS, officials stressed that ambulance services will remain available to Washita County residents through the new agreement with Sinor EMS.