Providing 911 ALS coverage to seventeen municipalities in eastern Cambria County.
A progressive advanced level professional ambulance service providing lifesaving emergency care to the critically ill and injured in Cambria County, Pennsylvania.
04/08/2026
Today we remember and honor Ed McCloskey, a dedicated EMT who served our community with compassion and commitment for many years.
Ed’s impact extended far beyond the calls he answered. As a CPR Instructor, he taught countless classes, equipping others with the skills and confidence to save lives. His passion for helping others and sharing his knowledge has left a lasting legacy within our service and throughout the community.
Beyond his service, Ed was a loving husband, a devoted father, and a true friend to many. He will be remembered for his kindness, his steady presence, and the genuine care he showed to everyone he met.
Our thoughts and prayers are with Ed’s family, friends, and all who had the privilege of knowing him. His memory will continue to live on through the lives he touched and the lessons he shared.
Rest easy, Ed. Thank you for your service and dedication—you will not be forgotten.
04/05/2026
Thank you to Alto Markets for donating meals to today’s crew.
04/01/2026
Thank you for the donor who donated pizzas for today’s on duty crews! She bought them to benefit a great cause!
A percentage of all sales from TODAY will be donated to Justin Hayes.
Justin was gifted a liver transplant on October 16, 2013, due to a hereditary illness called Budd Chiari syndrome. Unfortunately, he is now facing stage 3 kidney disease and liver damage due to the side effects of his anti-rejection medication.
All donations are appreciated and will be used to cover medical expenses and transportation for the many upcoming appointments and procedures.
03/29/2026
We’d like to recognize and thank our dedicated team members who recently attended the EMS Update 2026 held by EMS West.
Throughout the event, our staff participated in a variety of educational courses designed to enhance their knowledge, sharpen their skills, and stay up to date with the latest advancements in emergency medical services. They also had the opportunity to explore and trial new equipment, helping ensure we continue to provide the highest level of care to our community.
We are proud of their commitment to professional growth and excellence. Their dedication to learning and improving directly benefits the patients and communities we serve every day.
Thank you for representing our organization and for your continued hard work and dedication!
03/25/2026
We would like to extend our sincere thanks to the UPMC Altoona Foundation for their generous donation, which made it possible for us to purchase a new LUCAS CPR machine.
This lifesaving equipment will greatly enhance our ability to provide high-quality, consistent chest compressions during cardiac arrest situations, ultimately improving patient outcomes in our community.
We are incredibly grateful for the Foundation’s continued support of emergency medical services and their commitment to helping us better serve those in need.
03/17/2026
We are privileged to be among the first in the region to be a part of this project. Thank you to Southern Alleghenies for this commitment to services, and the by extension, each and every community.
03/15/2026
Thank you to Greg Farabaugh for donating turkey dinners from the St Michael’s Men’s Dinner to our on duty crews today.
03/06/2026
We received word from our marketing company that due to a computer error, reminders for our annual membership were sent to those who already purchased one. If you paid for a 2026 membership between December and now and receive a reminder in the mail it can be disregarded. We apologize for the inconvenience.
02/21/2026
This cats out of the bag it seems. Thank you to Penn Care for a smooth and hassle free purchase process. We look forward to placing this unit in service over the coming weeks to add another resource to help us care for our community.
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Cresson Area Ambulance Service, Inc. t.d.b.a. Cambria Alliance Emergency Medical Service got its start in 1929, when Norman P. Casher came to Cresson and began a funeral business. The hearses he used also served as patient transport vehicles to nearby Altoona Hospitals. The first hearse that was used was a Willis-Knight (in 1933), followed by a Pontiac which had no heater, a Dodge soon followed, and then a Buick, which was outfitted with red lights, siren, and oxygen. Finally, a Cadillac followed, and was given a first-aid kit and CB radios--all of which were installed in 1976. The rule of the attendants was: "Keep breathing; stop bleeding." The first fees for ambulance services were $10, unless the patient expired on the way to the hospital, in which case transportation was free.
On Nov. 27th, 1978, the Charles M. Kennedy Funeral Home of Cresson announced plans to form a non-profit ambulance service to be know as the Kennedy Ambulance Service, Inc. The name was incorporated because Mr. Kennedy donated all the existing medical equipment, the Cadillac, and provided the new service money to purchase a 1976 Modular ambulance for $16,000. The ambulance was staffed by three registered nurses: Betty Fulton, Cindy Sheehan, and Carol Stiles.
In 1980, Advanced Life Support (ALS) was introduced to the Cresson area. Four EMTs became paramedics, and Jack Seymore, a paramedic from nearby Altoona and former Vietnam medic, joined the service to help train the new paramedics. A $7,000 heart monitor/defibrillator and all necessary equipment, including advanced two-way radios to communicate with medical command doctors, were purchased through public donations. The hospital emergency room was virtually able to be brought to the patient's home.
In April of 1981, the service bought the George & Lee Quartz Building on 2nd St. for a generous $35,000. Before the purchase, the ambulances were housed in buildings apart from each other. After a lot of hard work and dedication, the new building had been remodeled--a ribbon cutting ceremony and open house were held on Oct. 31, 1981.
In 1988, The Kennedy Ambulance Service, Inc., through the Articles of Amendment, changed the name of the non-profit corporation to, Cresson Area Ambulance Service, Inc. Likewise, in 1991, due to the growing demands of the ambulance business, the service elected to change its form of government from within to the specialties of individuals outside the service. A Board of Directors was established to handle the financial and legal matters of the everyday operations of the business. That same year, in Oct., a mortgage burning ceremony was held at the station. Nine of the 12 charter members were in attendance and recognized along with George and Lee Quartz. Recognition was also given to the service's founders, and their portraits were hung on the conference room wall.
In 1993, building renovations were made to the building. The crew lounge, full-size kitchen, men's and women's bunk rooms, and bathrooms were renovated to accommodate the round-the-clock, paid crews.
Ashville and surrounding areas were incorporated into the service area in May of 2001, upon the request of the Ashville VFD. Likewise, in 2010, Lilly Ambulance Service merged with Cambria Alliance EMS, formerly called Cresson Area Ambulance Service Inc.
