City Offering Paramedic Services to Its Neighbor

The Fire Department may soon provide emergency paramedic services to its neighboring city in Los Angeles County, La Habra Heights.

With a population of 17,000, La Habra Heights has no paramedics or ambulances. It runs a small fire department with paid administrators and volunteer firefighters.

When residents call for paramedics, they must wait an average of 20 minutes for units from the Los Angeles County Fire Department to respond, La Habra officials said. La Habra’s paramedics could respond more quickly, City Manager Jerry L. Bankston said.

Last week, the La Habra City Council approved a contract that would provide La Habra Heights paramedic and ambulance service at no added cost to La Habra, Bankston said. The contract must be approved by La Habra Heights and the two counties’ boards of supervisors.

Bankston said his city would not have to hire additional paramedics or buy additional equipment. He stressed that La Habra Heights would have to pay any bills its residents or their insurance companies do not pick up.

“I believe it is a win-win situation,” Bankston said. “We’re basically able to increase our client service base without increasing our cost.”