The Lansford Ambulance Association is making efforts to return to active duty under compliance with state standards, according to Chief Tom Staruch.

In July, the Department of Health announced that the Lansford Ambulance Association had deficiencies in its vehicles and equipment.At the end of June there was a spot check inspection done on a Lansford Ambulance Service and it was determined that some equipment on the vehicle was not in compliance with state standards. Because of this, an 'out of service' decal was placed on the vehicle, the department spokeswoman Holli Senior said in July.The decal remains on the vehicle until the deficiencies are corrected and approved.A follow-up inspection was done to check on the status of the ambulance and at that time it was determined that the deficiencies had not yet been corrected, Senior said.A second ambulance of the service was inspected and deficiencies were also found with that vehicle, causing for an 'out of service' decal to be placed on it as well, according to Senior.With the service only having two operating ambulances, this put them on temporary suspension because they are unable to operate with no vehicles currently in compliance. When the agency corrects the deficiencies and requests a re-inspection, the suspension can be lifted," Senior said in July.The association lost its license and insurance because of the recent suspension in duty, according to Senior.According the director of Eastern Pennsylvania EMS council, John Kloss, the Lansford Ambulance Association had made no contact with them regarding their efforts to comply until Oct. 3 when it sent correspondence regarding the expiration of their license and the lapse in their insurance."They had contacted us after their license expired to update us regarding their status and efforts to comply," Kloss said.Staruch said the deficiencies have been corrected and they are working on restoring the association's licensing and securing new insurance."We are working on getting a new insurance policy and as far as we know we are in compliance with state standards, but we are still awaiting an inspection and working toward restoring our licensing," Staruch said.