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Finance committee seeks options to restore engine at Mitchell Park (Station 4) and phase in single-role ambulances
Summary
The Finance Committee continued a months-long discussion on expanding Palo Alto fire and ambulance services, directing staff to return with budget-ready scenarios to: restore a full engine at Station 4 (Mitchell Park) and phase in single-role civilian-staffed ambulances beginning with a 12-hour peak unit.
The Finance Committee received an extensive presentation and public comment on options to expand Palo Alto Fire Department emergency response, focusing on restoring engine service at Mitchell Park (Fire Station 4) and improving ambulance availability. Chief Blackshire and fire staff reviewed three new staffing options (cross-staff engine/medic at Station 4; a 12-hour peak ambulance staffed with civilian single-role personnel; or a fully staffed engine at Station 4 plus a 12-hour peak ambulance) and reiterated that the department is running about 9,400 calls per year with a heavy and growing share of emergency medical transports.
Chief Blackshire and Deputy Chief Kevin McNally described how the department currently runs as a system (automatic vehicle location dispatching the closest unit) and why cross-staffing reduces availability for either an engine or an ambulance when simultaneous calls occur. Staff reviewed system performance metrics: in FY24 Palo…
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