Gilbert Fire and Rescue rolls out its first ambulance service

PHOENIX — Monday marked a first for Gilbert Fire and Rescue.

The department unveiled its first ambulance service, with maintaining “fast and efficient response times” the main goal of the new asset.

“I think it’s going to benefit the citizens of Gilbert as a whole,” Assistant Fire Chief of Operations Bob Badgett told KTAR News 92.3 FM. “We placed that ambulance in a highly dense populated area that has substantial call volume.

“So with working with [American Medical Response], we believe the response that we’re going to give our citizens in that area is going to be better than what they’re getting today.”

The ambulance, Medic 253, is crewed by civilian staff trained to the same level as Gilbert’s firefighters in paramedic and emergency medical technicians training. There are three alternating crews in total and the unit is located out of Fire Station 3 in Gilbert.

And while Medic 253 is the only ambulance in service for Gilbert Fire, the unit will serve most of north Gilbert.

As for price, the new ambulance service will closely resemble the services around the Valley, according to Badgett.

“It’ll be very similar to [today’s fees],” Badgett said. “Ambulance transportation is not covered by the cities and towns. If patients are transported they’ll get a bill from the town of Gilbert with rates that are set by Arizona Department of Health Services, very similar to today when they receive one from the private industry.”

For more on Gilbert’s new ambulance program, visit the town’s website.

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