A local ambulance service is temporarily shutting down with both of its ambulances out of service.
The Southern Clarion County Ambulance Service says one ambulance has been in the shop for over five months waiting on an engine on backorder.
The other broke down last week with bad breaks.
Coordinator Sue Hockenberry says it's an example of issues plaguing many small ambulance services.
“We rely on third-party billing which is reimbursed at a very small portion on the dollar, backing us and you know, a lot of it is lack of government funding,” said Hockenberry.
Until at least one ambulance returns to service, they won't be able to take calls.
When operating, the two ambulances respond to calls sometimes as far as 45 minutes away.
The service is accepting donations and seeking grant opportunities to replace the older of the two ambulances.