JIM RUNKLE/THE EXPRESS Members of the Goodwill Hose Co. Ambulance Association in Flemington broke ground yesterday on the future site of their new six-bay structure, at 312 Canal St. From left are Sean Kleckner, chief; Katie Kleckner and Traci Kuntz, board members; Albert Hill, board president; Brandon Coleman and Don Grant, board members; and Seth Matter, assistant chief. Board members Lori Reamer and Kerry Stover Jr. weren’t available for the photograph.

FLEMINGTON — Officials of Goodwill Hose Co. Ambulance Association in Flemington gathered under a brilliantly blue sky before lining up to sink their gold-gilded shovels into the ground Monday afternoon.

After a year’s preparation, and many more years of fundraising, hoping and praying, selected members of the organization broke ground Monday on the future site of its new six-bay structure, at 312 Canal St., Flemington.

The association is celebrating its 75th anniversary in huge style this year, with the construction of a new $775,000 facility. When finished, the six-bay facility will cover 73,000 square feet and will provide an area for staff, training and equipment storage as well as the garage area.

Right now the construction site consists of a grass lot and is surrounded by a paved public right-of-way

But nine months from now, excavation and construction is expected to give way to a brand-new steel-frame facility that should serve to house the association well into the next 75 years.

The ambulance association provides both basic and advanced (paramedics) life support transport with a coverage area that spans 290 square miles. It has 40 active members and provides services to more than 11,000 residents.

Kleckner said the ambulance association is separate from the fire company, and the ambulance association does not regularly receive tax money from municipalities.

“Our organization is comprised of both paid and volunteer EMTs and paramedics,” he said. ‘”We run 24 hours a day, seven days a week. We have a mobile intensive care unit (ambulance) which carries at least one EMT and one paramedic, staffed at station. We do also have the ability to staff two additional advanced life support vehicles (paramedic on board) when or if needed.

“We are dispatched to approximately 2,000 emergency calls per year, and that number has increased by about 50 percent since 2012. The rise in call volume triggered the ambulance association to purchase an additional ambulance and paramedic support vehicle to meet the demands. With these additional purchases, the association has run out of room to store vehicles in the building it currently shares with the fire company.

“Goodwill Hose Company Ambulance Association has been providing quality emergency medical care and transportation to the residents of Clinton and Centre counties since 1942. We are excited to finally have a building of our own with room to grow as the needs of the community demand. The construction of the building cements our commitment to this community and all the residents of Clinton County.”

An upcoming fundraiser toward the capital project is a “Primitive Bingo,” with home decorations in the primitive style as prizes, is set for May 21 at Dunnstown Fire Company. Tickets may be purchased by calling the ambulance association at 570-748-9022. Anyone wishing to donate towards the Capital Building Campaign may send the contribution to Goodwill Hose Company Ambulance Association, Capital Building Campaign, 126 High St., Suite 3, Lock Haven, Pa. 17745.