South Lake Tahoe Fire Rescue expands EMS staffing

In a move that will save the city money as well as increase staffing, South Lake Tahoe Fire Rescue added 12 new Emergency Medical Services (EMS) specialists to their staff on December 14.

South Lake Tahoe Fire Rescue is now the only fire department in the Tahoe basin to have three firefighters on each engine at all times and two EMS specialists in the ambulance.

On July 7, 2015, SLT Fire Chief Jeff Meston and Lake Valley Fire Chief Gareth Harris announced proposed changes to the Cal Tahoe JPA agreement for ambulance services. While Meston said his department would stay in the JPA, he wanted to hand over ambulance services to Lake Valley.

During the December 7, 2015 South Lake Tahoe City Council meeting, Meston got backing of the Council to modify staffing on ambulances and remove firefighters and add EMS personnel. This move leaves firefighters on firetrucks, and EMS specialists on ambulances, helping him save money on costly staffing for interfacility transfers and other non-fire fighting events.

Meston said he got tired of waiting for Lake Valley to take over the ambulances and had to make a move to keep his budget in line. Harris, Lake Valley Fire District President Dave Huber and JPA Executive Director Ryan Wagoner all said they still want to transfer the ambulance services to their department and asked the City Council to delay their vote.

The change to the JPA agreement could still happen in the future, but for now the newly hired EMS specialists will take care of South Lake Tahoe ambulance needs.

A study by the National Institute of standards and Technology (NIST) shows the size of firefighting crews has a substantial effect on the fire services ability to protect lives and property in residential fires. The City of South Lake Tahoe has taken steps to improve its fire and life safety delivery system by increasing the staffing on paramedic engines from 2 to 3 personnel.

The ambulances had previously been posted at South Lake Tahoe Fire Rescue Stations 1 and 3 and as of December 14, both ambulances are now posted at South Lake Tahoe Fire Rescue station 2 which is located at 2951 Lake Tahoe Blvd., just across the street from South Tahoe Middle School centrally located in the middle of town.

Since moving to Station #2 the average ambulance response time inside the City has been reduced by 40 seconds. In the event of a medical emergency inside the City Limits an Advanced Life Support Fire Engine or an Advance Life Support Ambulance typically arrives at your emergency within five minutes of calling 911.

The twelve EMS specialists consist of six (6) Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs) and six (6) Paramedics. In the past, ambulances were staffed with firefighter paramedics.