Pembroke Park fire battalion chief explains staffing model, says engine accompanies high‑acuity ambulance calls

Fire‑rescue leadership told the commission about recent call volumes and explained the department’s staffing model and why a fire engine often accompanies ambulance responses.

Battalion Chief Michael Caine reported the department ran 175 calls in the month reported, including 118 medical calls and a range of vehicle accidents, alarms and fire calls. Chief Caine explained that the department staffs two paramedics on a rescue truck and three firefighter‑paramedics on an engine; for high‑acuity medical calls the engine is dispatched to provide additional personnel for patient care and scene safety.

“If you only have two people on a rescue truck and that patient needs urgent medical care, one person cannot provide that level of care by themselves,” Caine said, describing the operational rationale for sending an engine on certain medical priorities. Commissioners asked whether the town could instead staff three people on the rescue unit to reduce engine dispatches; staff said the model used by busier departments is three personnel on a rescue truck but that adding personnel would require additional funding.

Why it matters: Commissioners expressed interest in options that could reduce the number of large apparatus responses to medical calls and in the cost implications of adding personnel. Staff said adding a third medic to rescue units would increase personnel costs and that department leaders would explore staffing models and financial tradeoffs.

Next steps: Fire leadership and the town manager said they will further review staffing models and potential budget impacts and return with recommendations; no budget or staffing changes were approved at the meeting.