Rossford Fire Department left without oxygen for emergencies

12/30/2010

The Rossford Fire Department was left without oxygen for emergency medical patients Wednesday after a Toledo company removed supplies.

Reliance Oxygen & Equipment apparently was upset that the fire department had decided to go with a competitor as of Saturday and removed oxygen used in its two ambulances and three fire apparatuses at 3 p.m. Wednesday, Rossford Fire Chief James Verbosky said.

Jim McVicker, operations manager for Reliance, did not return calls Wednesday.

By late Wednesday afternoon, the fire department had one ambulance in service with portable oxygen and was waiting for its new supplier, MTB Oxygen & Equipment of Toledo, to make an early delivery, which it did shortly before 6 p.m., the chief said.

Chief Verbosky said the department had a written contract with Reliance through Friday and expected the firm to remove supplies Monday. MTB, which gave Rossford a more cost-effective contract, was not supposed to make its delivery until Friday, he said.

Rossford reported Reliance's action to the Better Business Bureau of Northwestern Ohio and Southeastern Michigan Inc. and is looking into what else can be done, Chief Verbosky said.