Carmel to Staff Additional Ambulance at Station 342; Council Approves Emergency Funding

The Carmel Common Council unanimously approved an ordinance on Feb. 3 to appropriate funds for staffing an additional Advanced Life Support (ALS) ambulance at Fire Station 342 on the city’s southwest side.

Council action followed a presentation from Fire Chief Joel Thacker, who said an analysis, including work with the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF), showed Station 342 needs additional ambulance coverage. Chief Thacker recommended adding two firefighters per shift — six positions in total across three shifts — and said the ambulance unit is already parked and equipped at Station 342 and can be put into service once staffing is in place.

The measure was introduced as an emergency appropriation because the positions were not included in the 2025 budget. City finance staff said the immediate cost will be covered from an unobligated balance in the general fund, routed through an overtime line while the department assesses a longer-term staffing plan. Zach Jackson, chief financial officer, told the council the ordinance directs payment from existing funds and that the city may later shift expenses from overtime to full-time lines once hiring decisions are finalized.

Chief Thacker said the added staffing will reduce ambulance response times and improve on-scene care and transport for patients, and also boost fireground operations for initial-arriving units. “The results clearly indicate that additional equipment, facilities and personnel are needed to provide increased fire and EMS services to the West Side of Carmel,” Thacker said.

Members of the Carmel Professional Firefighters union spoke in support of the ordinance. Sean Sutton, president of the Carmel Professional Firefighters, said the ambulance is “out of service right now” and that placing it in active service will save lives.

Council members pressed for follow-up work on the ordinance’s fiscal mechanics. Councilor Steve Snyder asked staff to review the ambulance fund ordinance and the procedures that govern use of ambulance-related revenues; council finance staff agreed to bring that forward to committee for review.

The council suspended rules and approved the appropriation the same night. The vote tally recorded on the meeting video and minutes was 9–0 in favor.

What happens next: The department plans to staff the ambulance initially with existing personnel paid through overtime. Chief Thacker said 10 recruits are in training; staff will present a longer-term staffing and hiring plan to the council later this year.