Baker City Firefighters Association is asking the public to attend the County Commission meeting on Wednesday, April 6 at 9am to share concern over fire and EMS service on the brink of collapse in Baker City.
Baker City Council voted last month to cancel ambulance services provided by Baker City Professional Firefighter/Paramedics. Now this decision rests in the County Commission’s hands to determine who should deliver ambulance and life sustaining emergency medical services within Baker City and some outlying areas. Currently, Baker City Fire Department staffs four professional dual role firefighter/paramedics per day to service the community of Baker City. With the City’s proposal, half of those positions would get cut, leaving only two firefighters on per day and no ambulance service starting on October 1, 2022.
Why is it important to staff dual role firefighter/paramedics? As the needs of our communities have evolved, so has the fire service and the demand for services in the community. Firefighters are all hazard responders and the need for skill sets in fire protection, rescue, hazardous materials and emergency medical services, just to name a few, are requested by citizens on a daily basis. When a car accident occurs there’s frequently a need for extrication, medical services, hazardous materials prevention, fire extinguishment and ambulance transport. These services are currently provided by Baker City dual role professional firefighter/paramedics. This is the case in many emergencies where firefighters are called and then medical services are needed due to the nature of the incident.
What does the elimination of firefighter/paramedics mean for the citizens of Baker City? Right now, if a house catches on fire in the community or a wildfire breaks out threatening homes, four professional firefighters respond and have the ability to provide search and rescue within the structure and extinguish the fire or save the structures. Four firefighters is the minimum as recommended by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 1710 to effectively respond on a fire apparatus. With the Baker City Council’s recommended plan, only two firefighters would respond and have little ability to extinguish the fire, effect rescue of fire victims or protect others homes if the fire should spread to surrounding buildings. Furthermore, these two firefighters would no longer provide advanced life support medical care and only be certified in first aid and CPR.
What would be the result if the County Commission determines that Baker City would no longer hold the ambulance service contract for the community? The County is bound by law to provide ambulance services to the citizens. If the County Commission opted to cancel ambulance provided service by Baker City Fire Department the County would likely contract with a private, for profit, ambulance service from Portland Metro area. Initially the contract would likely be low cost to the County but history shows that private ambulance will come into rural communities and increase contract rates to continue services. This handcuffs the small rural communities into long term contracts that ultimately cost the tax payers more money.
The Baker City Firefighters Association holds 12 positions that provide fire protection and emergency medical services in the communities they live, the communities they raise their families, and the communities they have served since 1909. Your Baker City Professional Firefighters are here for serving their community and to act as advocates for their fellow citizens. Tell your County Commissioners to be advocates for the citizens of Baker City and support your Fire Department to continue professional service by Baker City Professional Firefighters.
Please attend the County Commission Meeting on Wednesday, April 6 at 9am to express your opinion and keep professional, homegrown fire protection and EMS services with your Baker City Fire Department.
