Grass Valley Fire Department expands paramedic staffing and public training; Stop the Bleed, Hands-Only CPR outreach planned

The Grass Valley City Council heard a departmental update from Fire Chief Mark Button and emergency medical services (EMS) coordinator Dane Meredith on April 8 about staffing, training and public education initiatives aimed at strengthening local emergency medical response.

Button introduced Dane Meredith as the city’s EMS coordinator, noting Meredith joined the department in November 2024 and will lead expansion of the fire-based non-transport paramedic program authorized by local Measure E. "The citizens of Grass Valley entrusted us with the passage of Measure E several years ago to initiate a fire based non transport paramedic program," Button said. Meredith told the council that EMS makes up a large portion of the department’s calls and provided a 2024 call volume: "In 2024, we ran 4,833 calls, for service that had some sort of a need for emergency medical care," he said.

Meredith said the department has added an additional paramedic and expects two more staff to complete training soon, enabling advanced life support capability on engines. He described ongoing quarterly continuing education for EMTs and paramedics and said the department will provide in-house Advanced Cardiac Life Support and Pediatric Advanced Life Support instruction to reduce training costs and keep staff current. On public outreach, Meredith announced plans for "our first free community education event for Stop the Bleed and Hands Only CPR this summer," and said the department will work with local trauma centers and schools to expand those programs. Council members expressed support and asked staff to provide community training details when available; no council action was required.