IRONTON, Ohio (WSAZ) -- Residents in Lawrence County, Ohio will soon have an air ambulance helicopter to call their own.

Air Evac Lifeteam announced Tuesday that it is partnering with St. Mary’s Medical Center's Ironton Campus to open an air ambulance base later this year.

According to a press release, the Ironton base will serve communities within a 70-mile radius of Lawrence County, Ohio. 12 to 15 people will employed in Ironton by the air ambulance service.

“We’re very pleased that this medical helicopter will be established at our Ironton campus,” St. Mary’s Medical Center President and Chief Eexecutive Officer Michael Sellards said. “This will give patients the fastest possible access to our advanced emergency services at the St. Mary’s ER in Ironton and Huntington.”

An Air Evac Lifeteam crew, which includes a registered nurse, paramedic and pilot, is on call at each base 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Crew members are trained in advanced pre-hospital care. This same training also allows for critical care hospital-to-hospital transfers.

The Ironton helicopter will be equipped with state-of-the-art medical equipment, including the use of night vision goggles.

Air Evac Lifeteam is the nation’s largest independently-owned and operated air ambulance service.

Company President Seth Myers emphasized that the base in Ironton is a great addition to the already quality health services in southern Ohio.

“Our goal is to be an extension of those services already in place by providing rapid transport in critical medical situations,” said Myers.