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Aurora fire officials outline station reopenings, MD Ally telemedicine and recruitment plans
Summary
Fire department reported Station 9 will reopen with a March 7 grand opening, described MD Ally telemedicine to reduce ER transports, said current staffing is 462 of 477 authorized firefighters, and discussed CPAT recruitment and recent AFG-funded health screenings.
Fire leadership briefed the committee on facility reopenings, recruitment and programs intended to right‑size emergency response. A planned grand opening for Station 9 is scheduled for Saturday, March 7, and the department said openings for Stations 18 and 19 are planned later this year.
The department described MD Ally, a pilot telemedicine program that will let callers connect directly with physicians for certain low‑acuity calls to avoid ambulance transports or ER registration fees. "It eliminates ALS transport fees. It eliminates registration fees at an ER," the fire representative said, describing MD Ally as an upgrade of previous nurse‑navigation efforts.
Staffing discussion noted current strength at 462 personnel out of 477 authorized positions, with recruitment focusing first on lateral hires and later on an entry‑level academy. The department will launch an in‑house CPAT (candidate physical abilities test) to reduce barriers to entry and support local recruiting.
The department also discussed work on firefighter health and wildland risk mitigation. Members described a federal Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) that funded physicals and cancer screenings leading to early diagnoses for several members, and said they are preparing for red‑flag wildland risk days despite winter conditions.
The committee received the updates for information and did not take formal action; staff invited committee members to forthcoming station opening events and technology demonstrations.
