WILKES-BARRE -- A picture of the old Northeast Firehouse on Conyngham Avenue in Wilkes-Barre shows it surrounded by high grass after about a decade of non-use. But now, it has a new roof and a fresh coat of paint and is being leased by Commonwealth Health as its Wilkes-Barre substation.
"This is an opportunity for us to expand our EMS services in Luzerne County,” said Cornelio Catena, Commonwealth Health’s CEO.
Starting in a few weeks, the building will be staffed by paramedics from Commonwealth Health who will take patients to Wilkes-Barre General. Paramedics stationed here will also assist the city's EMS crews when needed.
"It's actually a great location. It's only a few blocks from the hospital, it's only a few blocks from the Cross Valley Expressway,” said Gary McIntyre, director of operations for the health system.
Commonwealth Health paramedic Andrew Holter lives in Mountain Top. He hopes to be transferred to the Wilkes-Barre location from the main station in Scranton.
“I'm hoping to work here myself, just because it will be a closer commute,” Holter said.
Commonwealth Health will also offer free training classes at this building for folks in the community. That's something people who live nearby look forward to.
“To know that, that's a lot of help, I already had to do CPR on my child,” said Laura Gyle, who lives a block away. She adds she’s glad part of the North End neighborhood is being revitalized.
“To know it's not empty and just sitting there empty, it's good,” Gyle.
Commonwealth Health has leased the building for the next five years and plans to officially operate from here in a few weeks.