Pasadena Fire Department to Acquire New Rescue Ambulance and Implements Paramedic Intern Program

The Pasadena Fire Department is set to acquire a new rescue ambulance and start a paramedic intern program.

This comes after the Department’s fiscal year 2023-2024 budget of $59.7 million was approved by the City Council.

Fire Chief Chad Augustine it has been nearly 20 years since the Fire Department added a new rescue ambulance and call volume has increased 40% over that time.

In addition to the new rescue ambulance, the fire department is also moving forward with implementing a new paramedic intern program.

The program entails hiring employees to work 20 hours per week, gaining EMS experience by receiving training and riding third person on ambulances to observe and gain experience.

In exchange, the fire department will support these employees by sending them to Paramedic school. Upon completion of Paramedic school training, the employees will be eligible for hire into the next fire recruit academy.

The Pasadena Fire Department currently has six half-time interns, and effective July 1st, was to add three additional positions for a total of nine half-time positions.