
WILLISTON, N.D. (KFGO) – The company that provides helicopter air medical services to Williston and Devils Lake has closed its operations in those communities.
Guardian Flight informed the Williston Fire Department of the closure on Monday afternoon, citing operating costs.
Williston Fire said the department was disappointed to learn of the closure.
“This closure will reduce the WFD’s ability to coordinate direct scene flights for patients. WFD will continue coordinating with air medical providers in the greater region to coordinate air medical transportation of the severely ill and injured patients we respond to,” a WFD release said.
Guardian Flight’s Williston air medical base opened in December 2012, and the Devils Lake air medical base opened in September 2014. Both operations served patients within a 150-mile radius.
In a statement, Guardian Flight said “several challenges, including low flight capture due to non-controllable issues such as weather and inflation, were significant factors in the decision to close” the two locations.
Trinity Health in Minot operates an air medical service named Trinity First Response which is now the closest air medical helicopter to the Williston region. Trinity also operates a fixed-wing air medical aircraft out of Williston.
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