SANTA PAULA : Fire Crew to Go Out on Medical Calls

The Santa Paula Fire Department will begin responding to calls for medical treatment for the first time later this month, following authorization by the City Council.

The council voted unanimously Monday to have firefighters aboard a specially equipped firetruck respond to medical calls when they involve accidents, or when a delay in ambulance service is expected.

Fire Chief Paul Skeels said firefighters may start responding to the medical calls within two weeks.

Eight of the city’s 30 firefighters are already certified emergency medical technicians, and more will receive training in the next year.

Private ambulance companies have handled about 700 medical emergencies a year in Santa Paula. The small, part-time Fire Department has helped only when firefighting skills or the “jaws of life” rescue equipment were needed.

Skeels said the success of other small fire departments in medical response and the knowledge that firefighters could reach some emergency calls faster than ambulances helped prompt the change.

Officials estimate the program will cost $18,350 in its first year.

Though the council restricted the range of cases firefighters will handle, the calls are expected to total about 300 a year.

“This is probably going to double our total number of calls,” Skeels said.

Santa Paula firefighters are not city employees, but contractors who are paid according to the number of calls.