Metro Fire has plan to put paramedics on all engines
Sacramento Metropolitan Fire District plans to staff all its engines with paramedics in an effort to increase services for ratepayers.
Spokesman Capt. Christian Pebbles said even with sick leave, vacation time and other emergency time off for firefighters, only one or two of its 37 engines might not have a paramedic.
Under the current system, about 80 percent of fire engines are Advanced Life Support engine companies, meaning that they are staffed with at least one paramedic. ALS engine companies also have two emergency medical technicians and life-saving medication.
Fifty percent of the district's 500 firefighters are also paramedics. Pebbles said they will be reassigned under the new program, which takes effect April 1.