Advanced life support and emergency medical assistance is one of the areas handled by the Operations Division.

  Operations Division

The Operations Division provides a continuity of service related to fire control and suppression, rescue, advanced life support/emergency medical assistance, and the mitigation of hazardous materials incidents. Major disasters are handled according to a Multi Hazard Plan (MHP) that is set up as a structure for responding to major emergencies, including earthquakes, riots, fires, hazardous material incidents, and other major emergencies. The Division also coordinates all local, state and federally mandated training programs for safety personnel, as well as programs designed to teach new technologies and methodologies. Each year, over 17,000 training hours are logged with respect to Prevention, Rescue Practices, Fire and Arson Recognition, Emergency Vehicle Operations, Emergency Operations, Hazardous Materials Incident Command System and Terrorism Preparedness.

Emergency Medical Services

Emergency medical services are provided under the direction of the Deputy Chief. Currently, the City operates two paramedic ambulances (mobile intensive care units) that are staffed by two firefighter/paramedics. Each ambulance contains 12 lead electrocardiogram (EKG) monitors generously donated by the Ortel Corporation. These devices are designed to assist paramedics in identifying acute myocardial infarction (AMI), and offer the capability to transmit event data files via telephone lines or cellular transmission to a hospital emergency room, thereby providing a time-saving link in pre-hospital patient care. The two paramedic ambulance units are strategically housed at Fire Stations #71 and #74. In addition, the department has strategically placed two paramedic assessment fire engines at Fire Stations #72 and #73. These fire engines are staffed with a fire captain, fire engineer and firefighter. To maintain a paramedic assessment engine, one of the three assigned personnel must be a paramedic. A paramedic ambulance is always dispatched to treat a patient and/or transport the patient to a local hospital. The Alhambra Fire Department is authorized by the Los Angeles County Department of Health Services to use Standing Field Protocols (SFTPs) to treat patients when necessary. This procedure enables paramedics to initiate advanced life support procedures without voice contact for medical direction from a physician.

Paramedic Subscription Program: The City Of Alhambra provides a supplemental insurance policy for paramedic/transport services referred to as the Paramedic Subscription Program. For $48 a year, the whole family receives protection. Most insurance companies require at least a 20% co-payment and sometimes ambulance service fees can run over $500, which could mean at least $100 of out-of-pocket expenses each time a family member has to be transported For more information about this program, call (626) 570-5190. For information about a paramedic bill that you may have already received, call Wittman Enterprises (billing service) at (800) 772-6552.

Mutual Aid Programs:

State-Sponsored Mutual Aid System: The Alhambra Fire Department is a member of the State of California Office of Emergency Services (OES) Mutual Aid System. OES is comprised of six geographical regions in the State of California with each region divided into several areas that may consist of counties and/or cities. Alhambra is part of Area "C," which also includes Pasadena, Burbank, Glendale, San Marino, South Pasadena, San Gabriel, Monterey Park, Arcadia, Sierra Madre, South Pasadena and Monrovia. In an event of an emergency, the local agency contacts their Region Coordinator and requests mutual aid companies to assist them with their incident, e.g., earthquakes, fires and floods. Alhambra is also a partner in a local Mutual Aid pact with Pasadena, South Pasadena, San Marino, San Gabriel, and Monterey Park. This system is utilized on a daily basis for both fire and medical emergencies.

Target Hazard Response: Alhambra is also a participant in a Target Hazard Response program within the five-city area. A target hazard is a building or occupancy that has an unusual high life hazard, e.g., a school or hospital. For these incidents, the department dispatches additional equipment to facilitate potential rescue scenarios.

Automatic Aid: This system dispatches the three closest engine companies to a fire, regardless of jurisdiction. Currently, the department has agreements with the cities of San Gabriel and Monterey Park, with intentions to include the City of Los Angeles, South Pasadena and San Marino in the near future.