Effective July 1st, Sierra Regional EMS has officially assumed responsibility for ambulance service operations across Lassen and Plumas counties, stepping in to fill the gap left by the region’s previous provider, SEMSA, which ceased operations on June 30th.
Under the direction of Plumas District Hospital, the newly formed emergency agency has fully taken over air and ground ambulance services in Lassen County, alongside ground ambulance coverage throughout Plumas County. The temporary management structure was established by hospital leadership as an interim measure, guaranteeing that local communities suffer no lapse or interruption in their vital emergency medical coverage during this critical operational shift.
A major focus of the transition involves a regional commitment to building a sustainable, collaborative network that enhances care across both county lines. To ensure full continuity of care, Sierra Regional EMS has successfully retained the existing SEMSA EMS staff. These local professionals have faithfully served Lassen County for the past twenty-one years, and according to SREMS, keeping them behind the wheel means residents will continue to receive treatment from the same experienced, familiar faces they have trusted for decades.
In terms of daily operations, local residents will see very little immediate change. Patients can expect the exact same high standard of care, backed by Plumas District Hospital’s ongoing initiative to expand access to timely emergency medical treatments.
For those concerned about specialized air support, critical medical transport services remain fully intact. The agency is maintaining its long-standing partnership with Air Methods to staff and operate the regional air ambulance bases out of Susanville and Adin, ensuring that remote and rural communities preserve their direct pipeline to trauma-level care.
The administrative team has also taken steps to streamline financial and public communications. For area households holding current SEMSA Gold Saver memberships, the transition is completely seamless, as all active accounts have been automatically rolled over into Plumas District Hospital’s official Sierra Saver Program without requiring any paperwork from the public.
Meanwhile, the organization’s digital footprint is shifting smoothly, as all social media platforms previously operated under the SEMSA banner are transitioning to the Sierra Regional EMS name to keep the public updated in real-time.
Observant residents may notice that local response vehicles and ambulances will continue to display the familiar SEMSA graphics on the road for a short while longer. Officials noted that these logos will be systematically updated over the next few months to reflect the new Sierra Regional EMS branding as individual units are brought in for service.
Looking toward long-term stabilization, Sierra Regional EMS has expressed its intent to formally respond to the county’s anticipated, revised Request for Proposals, with plans to submit a comprehensive bid to become the permanent, exclusive Advanced Life Support provider for the Lassen County Exclusive Operating Area.
