For more than 40 years, crews at the local fire department have transferred patients from the hospital in The Dalles to larger ones in Portland, Bend and other cities.
But that's about to stop.
"Having us transfer patients out of the area creates a strain on local service, local emergency services," Mid-Columbia Fire & Rescue Fire Chief Bob Palmer told KGW8.
"When those people are gone, they're gone for five- to eight-hour stints, depending on where they're going. And, they're not here and available to serve the community," Assistant Fire Chief David Jensen said.
The fire department will continue transporting the patients until hospital officials find a solution.
