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South Berwick staff propose town-run EMS under fire department; budget would rise if approved
Summary
Town officials presented a plan to create a fire-based emergency medical services (EMS) operation — buying ambulances, hiring full‑time paramedic/firefighters and modifying facilities — and said standing up the service would increase the town—s FY26 budget by roughly 6.5 percentage points (to about 6.5% or higher depending on funding choices).
South Berwick town leaders outlined a plan on March 4 to bring ambulance service under the town—s fire department, saying municipal EMS would address gaps in private ambulance coverage and improve response reliability.
Town Manager told the council that private ambulance providers have shown growing staffing and financial instability and that the town had experienced occasions when the contracted ambulance was unavailable. "I will not look at anybody in this audience as a town member and say, I'm good with a provider not providing," the manager said during the budget workshop.
Chief Hamill, the fire chief, presented operational details and a timeline. He proposed purchasing two ambulances (one new, one used), hiring eight full‑time firefighter/EMTs and paramedics (four paramedic/firefighter positions and four EMT/firefighter positions) and modifying the fire station to house unified fire/EMS operations. The chief said the town would apply for the municipal EMS license required by Maine EMS and that cross‑training firefighters as EMTs already underway would support staffing.
The town…
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