
Calif. FD considers having civilian EMS staff operate ambulance service
PALO ALTO, Calif. — Since launching its ambulance service in 1974, Palo Alto firefighters have served dual roles as paramedics. Medical calls now dominate, making up 62% of the city’s 9,416 emergency calls in fiscal year 2024, up from 7,209 in 2021 to 9, …