In light of the new year, Bonner County Ambulance Service District has announced its 2025 Year in Review statistics detailing station call volume and average response times.  

The district received a total of 5,053 calls in 2025, representing a 6% increase from the previous year and 16 more calls than projected, according to Chief Jeff Lindsey.  

“Looking ahead, I anticipate we will continue to see a 3-5% year-over-year increase in total call volume,” Lindsey said.  

According to the report, Station 1 in Sandpoint handled the highest call volume with 1,856 calls, followed by Station 4 in Ponderay with 1,299 calls. Station 2/5 in Priest River responded to 966 calls, while Station 3 in Sagle answered 932 calls. Lindsey projects that Stations 1 and 4 will continue to receive the majority of calls in the upcoming years.   

When responding to those calls, the district noted an average chute time of 1 minute and 29 seconds — the time between when a dispatch alert is received to when the ambulance is en route. 

“One of the most important performance metrics we have direct control over is chute time ... Our target is to keep that time under two minutes, and our outstanding crews continue to meet that goal each year,” Lindsey said. “We know Bonner County will continue to grow, and our responsibility is to both meet current demand and plan proactively for future increases in service needs.” 

The district also reported an average response time of 8 minutes and 43 seconds, which includes the time between a dispatch alert to when the ambulance arrives on scene. Average response times may vary depending on the location of the scene.