History
Cumberland Goodwill EMS had its beginnings over fifty years ago as Community Ambulance as part the Cumberland Fire Company. While the ambulance service was an integral part of the Cumberland Fire Company, the trade name Community Ambulance was used for the operations that provided emergency medical transportation for Carlisle and the surrounding area. At the time the ambulance service was entirely staffed by volunteers.
The community ambulance operations were conducted from the Cumberland Fire Company station on East Louther Street until 1984 when the Cumberland and Goodwill Fire Departments merged to create Cumberland Goodwill Fire & Rescue, stationed at the present location at 102 West Ridge Street.
The ambulance service trade name was updated to Carlisle Community Ambulance and remained an integral part of the newly formed fired and rescue company. As the needs of the community grew and the volume of calls increased, Carlisle Community Ambulance gradually changed from an all volunteer company to a service that is predominantly staffed by paid personnel.
In 2000 Cumberland Goodwill Fire & Rescue Company changed its named again to Cumberland Goodwill Fire Rescue EMS Inc. The name Carlisle Community Ambulance was dropped and the company is now known as Cumberland Goodwill Fire Rescue EMS. While you may hear the EMS operation referred to as Cumberland Goodwill EMS and the fire division referred to as Cumberland Goodwill Fire & Rescue, we are one company and only refer to the different names because of ease of describing the respected division.
