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Galt fire chief highlights EMS volume, improved offload times and a new mobile integrated health unit
Summary
Fire Chief Filipe Rodriguez told the council the department handled about 3,600 local calls last year (71% medical), saved $2.5 million in property, and is piloting an MIH unit; ambulance offload times have improved to about 29–35 minutes, and staffing exceeds NFPA medians.
Galt — Fire Chief Filipe Rodriguez presented the department’s annual performance report, citing call volume, response metrics and new programs designed to improve patient outcomes and conserve emergency resources.
Chief Rodriguez said the department responded to roughly 3,600 calls within the city over the last year and more than 25,000 across its wider service area; about 71% of calls were emergency medical service incidents and the department recorded 82 fires. He told the council the department calculated $456,000 in property lost and more than $2.5 million saved in the reporting year.
The chief highlighted an MIH (mobile integrated health) unit — MIH71 — which pairs a nurse practitioner or physician assistant with a paramedic for non‑transport patient care, allowing some patients to receive treatment at home rather than being transported to an emergency room. "We are currently footing the bill for that and providing the service to the community," the chief said; staff are exploring reimbursement and presented the service to the board for an additional year of funding.
Response‑time metrics were presented in detail: turnout and travel times together average about 6:41–6:49 to urban locations; rural travel times were longer but within expectations. The chief said ambulance patient offload times have improved substantially from peaks above 72 minutes to averages of about 29 minutes (Medic 45) and 35 minutes (Medic 46), moving closer to the state's 30‑minute target and the county's 20‑minute practice goal.
Council members asked whether road connectivity and overpass projects (Walnut interchange, Curillian connector, Sea Street improvements) affect response times, and whether the MIH unit will be financially sustainable. The chief said connectivity improvements can reduce travel time and confirmed MIH is currently funded from the general fund while staff pursue legislative and reimbursement options.
The council expressed appreciation for the department and for the family who appeared to publicly thank first responders for a life saved during a February cardiac emergency; the meeting included recognition photos and remarks by the rescued patient’s family.
