County Fire Authority OKs paramedics for Intermountain
The board president for the Intermountain Fire & Rescue Department is ecstatic.
On April 2, Maurice Waters received word that Intermountain’s request for paramedic and Advanced Life Support (ALS) services has met with the approval of the San Diego County Fire Authority.
On behalf of the fire authority, Dave Nissen, deputy chief of Southern Operations for Cal Fire San Diego Unit, proposed to equip the Intermountain station on the east end of Ramona with a 24/7 paramedic fire engine and staff of Cal Fire, county-funded career firefighters, including a captain, two engineers and three paramedic firefighters. The career firefighters will fully integrate with current staff of the Intermountain reserve volunteers.
“It’s more than I could have dreamed,” said Waters.
Intermountain joined the county fire authority in 2008. Waters told county Supervisor Dianne Jacob at her Ramona Coffee with Constituents Feb. 27 that Intermountain has a critical need for paramedic services. Jacob said she had not been aware of the need.
The rural fire department covers an area of 125 square miles, from Ramona to Julian and San Diego Country Estates to Lake Henshaw, said Waters. The expansive area includes two-lane winding highways that often see tourist traffic, as well as accidents. The station is on state Route 78.
“With this dangerous corridor you need Advanced Life Support,” Waters said.
When an accident or an emergency medical situation occurs, Waters said the department sends its fire engine and emergency medical technicians (EMTs). If necessary, it must rely on mutual aid from Ramona, Julian or Warner Springs.
“Just the physical location of these paramedic units means longer response time,” he said.
Since joining the county fire authority, Intermountain has continued to function as a 501c3 nonprofit with a volunteer reserve program and support from the county agency.
According to the fire authority, it has provided training, equipment, including fire apparatus and personal protective equipment, and funding.
“The county has invested over $300 million since 2003 to enhance the level of fire protection and emergency medical service in the region,” said Jacob in an emailed response to the Sentinel. “Providing career firefighters and paramedic service at the Intermountain station is yet another step towards bolstering the county fire authority and improving the health and safety of residents and visitors.”
The proposed scenario for the Intermountain station would be known as a “schedule A-career staffed fire station, on an ALS platform,” said county staff. Intermountain would be the seventh ALS paramedic engine that the county plans to bring online by this summer, according to the county. The other areas are Otay, Jamul, Jacumba, Lake Morena, Pine Valley and Descanso.
Waters said this also means the station will no longer have to struggle with funding. The proposal still has to go to the Intermountain board for approval. Waters said he expects to have a meeting next week.
With Jacob’s support for the 24/7 paramedic engine in the county’s 2015-16 budget, staff said the fire authority is prepared to implement the upgrades by July 1.