ORANGE : Fire Agency, 2 Firms Vie for City Contract
The Fire Department and two private ambulance companies are preparing for a showdown over exclusive rights to provide the city’s emergency transport service.
Fire Chief David L. Rudat said he will recommend at Tuesday’s City Council meeting that his department, which already provides paramedic service, buy four ambulances and take over all emergency transportation.
Start-up costs of $375,000 would be repaid within five years, he said, and subscriber fees would not rise.
Medix Ambulance Service and CareLine California now provide emergency transport for different areas of the city. Both want to offer exclusive, citywide service and have opposed the fire chief’s plan since he proposed it in May.
Between now and Tuesday, said Byron de Arakal, CareLine’s spokesman, the company will be phoning residents, mailing 1,000 brochures and handing out literature in Orange.
De Arakal said CareLine will present its own proposal for offering exclusive service, including paramedic response.
Medix officials did not return calls Friday seeking comment.
The council will vote Tuesday on whether to keep the system now in place or choose one of the three alternatives: Medix’s, CareLine’s or the Fire Department’s.
Start your day right
Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
