JEFFERSON COUNTY, OHIO---

EMS officials in Toronto, Ohio, are responding to a petition put together by residents to make sure they have service in case of an emergency.

"Minutes always count, especially if its something severe like a cardiac arrest," TEMS Chief and Director of Operations Clark Crago said. He said is critical for EMS crews to get to their destination as quickly as possible.

However, quick response time has become a topic of concern for residents in Island Creek Township.

"They want a fast unit that's the closest with the highest qualified personal," said Crago.

Toronto EMS officials said right now, there is an unincorporated area of Island Creek Township just outside of the city that isn't legally covered. Therefore, resident in the northeastern corridor of the township have to rely on EMS service from mutual aid departments that are considered farther away than the TEMS Joint Ambulance District.

"For the area that they have mentioned, we have the highest trained staff to, I believe our equipments the best in the valley, and we're there for them if that's what the citizens and the Trustees decide," said Crago.

TEMS officials said they are all for serving the area.

Now residents are petitioning to make sure TEMS has the legal backing to do so.

"We want to fulfill their needs, and we hope that they do joining the district for that area that way there will be no question in the future of service," Crago said.

The petition will be presented to the Island Creek Township trustees this week, and they will have the final say as to whether TEMS will get the legal backing to cover the area.