Baker City, Oregon is exploring the possibility of reactivating the Baker City Fire Department’s ambulance license, a move that the regional manager for Pioneer Ambulance Service supports. This potential reinstatement comes after the fire department utilized a city-owned ambulance on two occasions this past summer in situations where the primary ambulance provider, Pioneer Ambulance Service, was stretched thin.
Tim Novotny, regional manager for Pioneer, formerly known as Metro West, indicated he would recommend the Baker City Council to approve the fire department regaining its ambulance license. This would enable the city to receive reimbursements for ambulance transports, particularly in the infrequent but critical instances when city ambulances are needed. City Manager Barry Murphy has scheduled a discussion on this matter with city councilors during their meeting on Tuesday, August 27th, at City Hall. Novotny plans to address the council himself, voicing his support for the proposal.
The discussion was initially brought to the forefront by Murphy during a city council meeting in June. Baker County commissioners had previously contracted Metro West, now Pioneer Ambulance Service, in June 2022 to be the primary ambulance provider. This decision followed a previous city council’s choice, under the guidance of former city manager Jonathan Cannon, to discontinue the fire department’s ambulance service, which had been a fixture for almost a century. Cannon cited financial concerns, arguing the city could not sustain a fire department that was simultaneously handling fire responses and a high volume of ambulance calls. With ambulance calls constituting approximately 80% of the fire department’s calls, the city faced the need to reduce firefighter staff. Consequently, numerous firefighters were laid off, and many others resigned in the following months.
Since then, the city has been actively rebuilding its fire department ranks, hiring new firefighters. However, discontinuing ambulance services has resulted in a financial shortfall for Baker City. Ambulance service billing previously contributed about $1 million annually to the city’s general fund. The fire department’s budget has since decreased by roughly half that amount since 2022. This loss of revenue has been a contributing factor to the general fund deficit, which prompted the city council to introduce a public safety fee starting June 1st for residents and businesses.
Both Novotny and Murphy have confirmed two instances this summer where the fire department transported patients using a city ambulance. According to Novotny, one of these situations occurred when one Pioneer ambulance crew was attending to a call in Huntington, while the other was dispatched to Unity, leaving a gap in immediate Baker City coverage.
The county’s contract with Pioneer Ambulance Service encompasses the Baker ambulance service area, which includes Baker City and more than half of the county, as well as the Huntington area. Separate ambulance service areas exist for Eagle and Pine Valley. In the recent Baker City incident, upon receiving a 911 call, the fire department responded with their ambulance. Novotny acknowledged that the fire department possesses both the necessary equipment and trained personnel to operate an ambulance effectively. “We were fortunate they were there,” Novotny stated, emphasizing the fire department’s commitment to community service. “They want to serve the community. We’re advocating for this.”
Pioneer Ambulance Service currently operates four ambulances in Baker City, with two consistently staffed. The additional ambulances serve as reserves for peak times and as backup in case of mechanical issues with the primary vehicles. Novotny emphasized that having the fire department’s ambulance available, even infrequently, is highly beneficial. Pioneer crews are prepared to alert the fire department when circumstances suggest the city ambulance might be needed.
Murphy noted the fire department has three paramedics on staff, and all firefighters hold at least an EMT-basic certification, highlighting their medical response capabilities. He explained that the two recent city ambulance transports were handled as emergency measures due to potential liability concerns, similar to a private citizen transporting an injured person. However, Murphy aims to establish a formal agreement with the county and Pioneer Ambulance Service to define the city’s supportive role more clearly. Shane Alderson, chairman of the county board of commissioners, confirmed his awareness of these discussions and agreed on the necessity of commissioner involvement in formalizing any arrangement.
Novotny clarified that for the city to be reimbursed for ambulance transports, it would need to reinstate its state ambulance license. Murphy also pointed out the potential for increased need for a city ambulance during winter. Severe weather conditions can ground air ambulance services like Life Flight, potentially requiring Pioneer Ambulance Service to utilize ground transport for out-of-county hospital transfers. Novotny concurred that having a city ambulance readily available could significantly aid Pioneer in managing longer-distance patient transports.
The potential reinstatement of the Baker City Fire Department’s ambulance license represents a collaborative approach to ensure robust emergency medical services for the community, leveraging the resources and expertise of both the fire department and Pioneer Ambulance Service. This partnership aims to enhance patient care and optimize emergency response capabilities within Baker City and the surrounding areas.
