Escondido city staff told the council on Dec. 10 that emergency medical responses have grown from about 11,500 calls in 2015 to nearly 15,000 in 2024 and recommended adding a sixth rescue ambulance to the city’s frontline fleet.

Deputy Fire Chief Tyler Batson described trends from the Standards of Cover study: three of Escondido’s rescue ambulances operate above recommended unit-hour utilization thresholds, and there are periods averaging 23 hours a month when no Escondido ambulance is available because all are assigned to calls. Batson said overlapping assignments have increased and the additional unit would reduce reliance on mutual aid.

Operations Chief Kevin Beverly provided the cost estimate and timeline. "The one-time startup cost is estimated to be $603,000," Beverly said, and the annual operating cost was estimated at about $1,480,000, including new firefighter-paramedic positions and vehicle maintenance. Beverly said staff anticipate roughly $1,000,000 annually in transport revenue recovery that would offset a substantial portion of recurring costs and recommended using Measure I (the Escondido Community Investment Measure) as the funding source.

Councilmembers supported the recommendation, citing public-safety priorities and prior Measure I commitments. After discussion, the council voted 4–0 to approve the staff recommendation and the related resolution (2025-161). Staff said the goal is to place the additional rescue ambulance in service by April 2026, contingent on recruiting, apparatus ordering and equipment procurement.