Bell Ambulance data breach compromised more than 237,000 individuals

Bell Ambulance, a Wisconsin-based ambulance service, said a major data breach incident identified in February 2025 compromised the sensitive personal information of more than 237,000 individuals.

 

The Milwaukee, Wisconsin-based ambulance service first announced the data security incident in April last year, stating that on February 13, 2025, it became aware of unauthorised activity on its computer network and immediately launched a forensic investigation to determine the nature and scope of the activity.

 

The company soon determined that an unauthorised third party had taken certain information stored in its systems, and launched a thorough review of the impacted portions of its network to determine the scale of the breach and identify how many individuals were impacted.

 

Acquired by Rick Zehetner in 1976 and becoming among the first private ambulance services to participate in the Milwaukee EMS system since 1978, Bell Ambulance is now the largest ambulance provider in the State of Wisconsin with more than 750 employees and answering more than 140,000 calls for ambulance service each year. 

 

The company said that after it identified the unauthorised activity, it also secured its network, reset passwords, secured all accounts and started mailing notice letters to potentially impacted individuals with more information regarding this incident.

 

"This review is ongoing. However, to date, Bell has determined the information impacted may include individuals’ first and last name in combination with one or more of the following data elements: date of birth, Social Security number, driver’s license number, financial account information, medical information, and/or health insurance information," Bell Ambulance said.

 

The company revealed at that time that it had identified 114,000 individuals whose data was compromised during the incident. However, in a recent data breach notice filed with the office of the Attorney General of Maine, the company revised the number of affected individuals to 237,800.

 

Bell Ambulance said it completed its review of the affected systems on February 20 but had begun notifying affected individuals on January 15. The company is now offering up to 24 months of free credit monitoring and identity protection services to affected individuals and has advised the victims to remain vigilant against incidents of fraud and identity theft.

 

"Bell sincerely regrets any concern this incident may cause you. The privacy and security of your information is
important to us, and we will continue to take steps to protect information in our care," the ambulance service added.