Why is a fire engine sent when I call an ambulance?

In today’s world firefighters do more than just put out fires. Nearly all of the Victoria Fire Department staff is certified by the Department of State Health Services as an EMT-Basic, EMT-Intermediate, EMT-Paramedic, or Licensed Paramedic. Certain types of critical medical calls (unconscious persons/ major trauma to name a few) automatically have a fire company respond with the ambulance. 

With critical patients the more help the better as treatments can be given quicker, scene times are reduced, and the patient is in the Emergency Room faster. Fire companies also respond to both critical and non-critical medical calls if the ambulance assigned to that particular area is not available. Basic lifesaving care can be started by the fire company in a matter of a few minutes in some cases those minutes can be the difference between life and death for the patient.

Show All Answers

1. Why is a fire engine sent when I call an ambulance?
2. How do I request a tour of a fire station?
3. What if I have a question about my ambulance bill?
4. What is the best kind of fire extinguisher for my house?
5. Can a fire engine visit my children's school?
6. Why does the Fire Department tear open walls, when it seems there is no fire in the room?
7. Who do I call if I have problems with bees?
8. Why do so many fire apparatus respond to simple incidents?
9. How come I see fire trucks with full lights and sirens go through a red light at intersections and then, after they go through, they turn off their lights and slow down?