STAR Ambulance exists to provide dependable, clinically sound emergency medical care to the communities we serve. Our purpose is to ensure every patient receives timely, respectful, and compassionate care from a team they can trust.
Our mission is to deliver high quality emergency medical services with professionalism, integrity, and compassion. We respond with readiness, skill, and respect for every individual we serve. Through strong partnerships with local agencies, hospitals, and community organizations, we work to strengthen safety, preparedness, and health throughout our region.
Southern Trinity Area Rescue (STAR) emergency ambulance was established in 1978. In 1977 due to the lack of emergency medical care in the vast rural area of Southern Trinity and Eastern Humboldt counties, members of the community, including Russ Frasier, Dan Gordon, and Andy Gough, applied to the state of California to fund a non-profit company that would provide local clinic and emergency medical services where there otherwise were none. The Southern Trinity Health Services clinic and STAR ambulance were created together to make this happen and final approval was granted in the Spring of 1978. From that point, facilities, equipment and staff were acquired and trained through, grants, volunteers, and fundraising. The first STAR EMT class graduated in April of 1979. STAR ambulance was staffed by 100% volunteer responders until 2017 when some paid staff was brought on to help relieve some of the strained volunteer positions. Currently STAR still utilizes volunteers to staff some ambulance shifts.
The STAR service area covers a vast region approximately 1200 sq miles, from Larabee Valley in Humboldt County to the South Fork ridge, in Trinity, on State Highway 36. The area goes out past Kettenpom, Ruth lake, the Yolla Bullies, and towards Alderpoint, as well as down County Line road back into Humboldt County on the east side of the Mad River. The closest Hospital Emergency Department is over 1.5 hours from the boarders of STAR's area and at its center 2 plus hours or more. STAR ambulance and its EMTs provide time sensitive Emergency Medical Services to all the people that live, work, travel through, or vacation in the area that would otherwise have none.
STAR and its volunteers reach much further than just responding to 911 medical emergencies when they occur. Since its beginning, STAR has offered First Responder and EMT classes almost yearly for no fee to future volunteers or any one wanting to further their education. Also the volunteers of STAR teach Public Safety First Aid classes for Fire departments and First Responder agencies, as well as CPR classes for the general public, local schools, and other businesses. For the first 40 plus years, STAR trained and used its own volunteer emergency dispatchers as well. It was only in 2024 that the volunteer dispatch program has become a part of volunteer history.
STAR ambulance still remains a non-profit that is the only emergency medical service for its vast area in Northern California. What started as a community effort to help friends and neighbors in times of need, grew and blossomed into the ambulance service that it still is today.
Our leadership team is dedicated to pushing forward STAR Ambulance with vision, integrity, and a commitment to excellence. They are the driving force behind our mission and values.
Director
About: Brooke Entsminger has been in EMS since 2003 and has served as a Paramedic for 20+ years bringing experience in emergency response, leadership, and community health. She is committed to building a strong, well-trained team and maintaining STAR's reputation for compassionate, dependable care.
Board of Directors
Our board of directors is made up of dedicated community members who have a strong commitment to see that STAR Ambulance continues to provide high-quality emergency medical services to our community.
STAR Ambulance is deeply connected to the community we serve. Beyond emergency response, our team participates in local events, provides CPR and safety training, supports schools and civic groups, and collaborates with partner agencies to strengthen community readiness.
We believe in delivering patient first care grounded in clinical excellence, rapid response, and respectful communication. Our protocols follow current medical standards, and our team trains regularly to ensure readiness for any emergency.
Serving with Skill and Heart.