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Tualatin Valley Fire & Rescue warns rising EMS demand, outlines PTSD training and capital projects
Summary
Tualatin Valley Fire & Rescue told the City Council it responded to about 3,700 calls in the city this year, that roughly 70% of calls are medical, and that the district is expanding programs — including advanced practice paramedics, a nurse navigation pilot and the Struggle PTSD training — while moving forward on bond‑funded station projects.
Tualatin Valley Fire & Rescue delivered a state‑of‑the‑district briefing to the Tualatin City Council on April 13, saying the city has seen a little over 3,700 calls for service this year and that emergency medical incidents account for roughly 70% of those calls.
“It's a little over 3700 calls for service this year,” the Fire Chief said, and later noted that “70% of your calls are EMS,” underscoring that medical responses dominate workload and strain traditional response models.
Why it matters: Councilors were told that the changing mix of calls — more frequent medical and low‑acuity requests that historically relied on 911 — is forcing the department to test alternatives to traditional ambulance dispatch to preserve capacity for critical incidents.
What the district is doing: The chief outlined several innovations: Advanced Practice Community Paramedics who provide on‑scene help and navigation for frequent users; a nurse‑navigation system that triages certain 911 calls (the chief said the program can reduce dispatches by an estimated 15%); and an ARMCAR pilot embedding a nurse practitioner or physician assistant with paramedics to provide higher‑level field care. “We’re trying new things,” the chief said, describing nurse navigation and other pilots as ways to lower recurring 911 demand.
Capital work and readiness: The department reported progress on voter‑approved general obligation bond projects passed in 2021. The chief said Station 35 in King City is “on the ground” and other station projects and a replacement training center are moving forward to address failing systems and future needs.
Responder wellness: A significant portion of the presentation focused on mental‑health supports for first responders. The chief described the Struggle PTSD program adopted by the district and the aim to train first responders across Washington County in that program, noting it helped at least one firefighter return to work and that the district is seeking state funding to expand training countywide.
Council questions and next steps: Councilors asked about public notification tools and technology — including PulsePoint for cardiac arrest alerts and AED locations — and about gender representation in department leadership. The chief said the department is continuing trials of technology and working with regional partners. No council action was required; the presentation was informational and staff offered to follow up on specific technology and staffing questions.
