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Utica fire chief warns ambulance availability strained, outlines water‑rescue and academy funding needs
Summary
Fire department leaders told council ambulances are frequently unavailable because of hospital turnaround delays and high call volume; the department estimated costs for a water‑rescue capability and described revenues from its training academy.
The fire chief told the council ambulance service is extremely busy and often unavailable because of patient delays at receiving hospitals, pushing other agencies to respond and creating missed calls.
“We probably don't have an ambulance available for around a hundred calls a month, at least,” the fire chief said, describing hour‑plus waits at hospitals on busy days and the resulting backlogs.
Council members asked whether the constraint was ambulances, staffing or both; the chief said it is both and that…
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