MARS — Although Adams Area Fire District has not received a dime in rent from Mars Emergency Medical Services for more than 18 months, fire Chief Bill Rooker remains unconcerned.

"They are in the process of trying to reorganize," said Rooker. "I hope they are able to, because you hate to see (an ambulance) service go down."

Mars EMS' facility, which includes garage bays and office space, is adjacent to the fire company on Irvine Street in the borough. The ambulance company has not taken a call since late December, and is currently in violation of state law because it did not notify Emergency Medical Service Institute, its governing entity, of its intention to discontinue service.

EMSI sent a letter last week to agencies and government entities affected by the stoppage, informing them Mars EMS is in violation of state code.

A woman who answered the phone at Mars EMS on Tuesday said she could not comment on the service's status and that she would have a company official contact the Butler Eagle. No one from Mars EMS had called the Eagle as of this morning.

Frank Matis, Butler County director of emergency services, said Tuesday he received a call from Mars EMS in January notifying the 911 center it would be out of service for a time. Matis said he told Mars EMS at that time to notify him of any plans to close up shop, but he has had no contact with Mars EMS since the January call. Matis remains unsure of Mars EMS' current status.

"We have taken them off our list for any response," Matis said. "We're kind of in the dark as well."

Matis is so doubtful of Mars EMS' status that if they were to contact him and report a return to duty, he said he would immediately contact all municipalities in the Mars response area to question whether they want Mars EMS to handle calls in their borough or township.

"I would be very reluctant to put them back on (the list of official responders) unless the specific municipalities requested me to do so," Matis said.

Butler County Emergency Medical Services Council coordinator Jay Grinnell said he has not talked to anyone at Mars EMS since New Year's. Grinnell said he heard at an emergency medical services conference that the struggling ambulance service is trying to find someone to take over the business.

According to the state code Web site, medical services providers are required to notify their regional EMS council, emergency dispatcher and municipalities within and around its response area of its intention to discontinue services 90 days in advance of the stoppage.

According to the violation letter from EMSI received by Grinnell, Mars Borough, Matis and others, Mars EMS failed to comply with that part of the state code.

Matis said he is surprised the letter is one of notification only, and not a threat to revoke the service's license as a result of the violation.

The Butler County Fire Chief's Association Web site states the service has two ambulances equipped with advanced life support.