LEWES, Del. – The Lewes Fire Department has formally warned the Sussex County Council that it will be forced to begin dissolving its Emergency Medical Services (EMS) if significant funding increases are not provided by 2025. In a letter dated March 6, department officials outlined the growing demand for emergency services due to rapid development in the district. Call volumes for fire and EMS have increased from 5,040 in 2018 to 7,589 in 2024, driving up staffing and operational costs. Career personnel have risen from 17 to 25, and operating costs have more than doubled, from $1.04 million to $2.37 million. The department has also faced annual EMS deficits of nearly $500,000 in the past two years. They warned that without additional funding in the upcoming fiscal year, EMS services would be forced to shut down. The City of Lewes was unaware of the letter as of March 11, and Sussex County has not commented on the issue.
