An emergency medical technician-basic class has 16 students, Marion County Emergency Medical Service Director Steve Smith said Monday.

Originally 17 signed up, but one student dropped the class. More likely will quit because of the necessary time commitment, Smith said. A first responder class was canceled because only one person signed up for it.

Ambulance calls continue to lag behind 2009 levels. Through the third quarter of 2010, ambulances have responded to 779 calls, down from 869 at the same point in 2009. September calls totaled 112.

No-transports accounted for 36 calls; medical emergencies, 26; standbys, 16; transfers, 12; falls, 11; cardiac emergencies, 5; motor vehicle accidents, 4; and canceled calls, 2.

Hillsboro’s ambulance was called into service 36 times; Marion, 30; Peabody, 25; Florence, 10; Tampa, 8; and the back-up unit, 3. First responders in Goessel were called out four times; Lincolnville, three; and Marion, one.

Commissioners approved writing off $2,353 of uncollectible bills.