About Lancaster Volunteer Ambulance Corps (LVAC)

Founded in 1953, the Lancaster Volunteer Ambulance Corps (LVAC) has proudly served the communities of Lancaster and Depew for over 70 years. In 2016, we expanded our coverage area to include both the Town and Village of Alden, reaffirming our commitment to delivering high-quality, compassionate emergency medical care across the region.

Our mission, “Doing so much more than just 911 calls,” reflects our deep dedication not only to emergency response but to community engagement, education, and readiness.

LVAC operates as a hybrid organization, composed of both professional staff and passionate volunteers who work side by side to respond to thousands of emergency calls each year. All members undergo state-certified EMS training, and we proudly offer Continuing Medical Education (CME) to support the growth and development of our team.

Our centrally located facility near Walden and Central Avenues was purpose-built for EMS operations and is designed to support fast, efficient response across Lancaster, Depew, and Alden. It features a climate-controlled five-bay garage for our ambulance fleet, along with full amenities for our 24/7 crews, including sleeping quarters, showers, a kitchen, laundry room, fitness space, and a common room. The station also houses a training room, conference room, and on-site administrative offices, making it a fully equipped hub for emergency response, continuing education, and community engagement.

Our fleet includes five fully stocked frontline ambulances that can be staffed and ready around the clock, plus four additional backline units to ensure support during high-demand situations. LVAC vehicles are equipped with X-Series ZOLL monitors, Stryker Power-LOAD power-loading stretchers, and LUCAS 3 devices, allowing our crews to provide advanced, lifesaving care in the field.

True to our mission, we are deeply integrated into the community. LVAC regularly hosts training events, participates in health fairs, and teaches CPR at Lancaster High School. We believe in building resilience through education and strong local partnerships.

As we look ahead, LVAC remains focused on expanding services, upgrading technology, and fostering the next generation of EMS professionals all while staying grounded in our core purpose: serving the community with excellence, day in and day out.

History

The Lancaster Volunteer Ambulance Corps (LVAC) was originally established as the Lancaster Town Police Ambulance Service, in response to concerns over delayed ambulance response times from the nearby city of Buffalo, New York. To support this new initiative, the Dresser Railcar Factory in Depew generously donated a used 1947 Mercury Ambulance. At the time, on-duty police officers would be dispatched when a rescue call came in. They would drive to the station, pick up the ambulance, and proceed to the scene. Auxiliary police officers also played a critical role, they were either called from home or spent time at the garage where the ambulance was housed. Typically, active police officers handled daytime calls, while auxiliary officers covered nighttime responses.

Among those early pioneers was Paul Welker, a former Auxiliary Police Officer and Director-at-Large, who remains active with the Corps today as its last surviving founding member. During those formative years, the growing ambulance fleet inluded notable vehicles such as 1955 Cadillac Ambulance, a 1955 Ford Emergency Truck, and a 1962 Pontiac Ambulance, among others.

In the early 1970s, the Lancaster Town Police Department opted to exit the ambulance service, leading its members to formally establish the Lancaster Volunteer Ambulance Corps. In 1975, LVAC was incorporated as an independent organization, although it has maintained a strong and collaborative relationship with the police department every since. For many years, the Corps operated out of a cramped two-bay garage behind Lancaster Town Hall on Clark Street, until relocating to a more modern facility in 1996.

Today, LVAC responded to EMS calls in cooperation with both the Lancaster Police Department and the Depew Police Department within their respective village boundaries. The Lancaster and Depew Fire Departments are dispatched to EMS calls along side LVAC. Within the Town of Lancaster, LVAC works alongside several professional volunteer fire agencies, including the Bowmansville Volunteer Fire Association, Town Line Fire Department, Twin District Fire Company, and the Millgrove Volunteer Fire Department.

In summer 2016, LVAC expanded its coverage to include the Town and Village of Alden, following the cancellation of local contracts by American Medical Response (AMR). LVAC now serves as the primary ambulance provider for the Town and Village of Alden and provied Advanced Life Support (ALS) backup for the Alden Fire Department who operates one Basic Life Support (BLS) Ambulance. In late 2017, LVAC was also designated as the primary EMS provider for a section of the New York State Thruway, covering the stretch from the Transit Road (Depew) ramp to the Erie County Line eastbound.