FIRE-BASED EMS

Return a Community Focus to EMS

Fire departments have a deep understanding of their communities. They already respond to medical emergencies and are positioned to prioritize local needs. By integrating EMS into fire services, operations become more community-centered and better aligned with the work of other first responders.

Restore Paramedics as First Responders

Paramedics are not simply healthcare providers working alongside first responders — they are first responders. Their role originated on the battlefield, far from any hospital setting. Fire-Based EMS recognizes the true nature of paramedicine and affirms its rightful place within protective services.

Better Working Conditions

Fire departments are rooted in a culture of fellowship, tradition, and service. Generations of successful collective bargaining have resulted in better pay, benefits, and pensions for Fire Fighters — conditions paramedics deserve as well. Since Fire Fighters and Paramedics already work side-by-side on a daily basis, Fire-Based EMS is a natural evolution.

Stronger Staffing

There are hundreds of EMS-trained professionals working on fire trucks across Alberta, many of whom are underused. Fire-Based EMS would activate these underutilized resources, expanding full-time pre-hospital care capacity across the province. Unlike many EMS positions, Fire Fighter roles are typically full-time (1.0 FTE), meaning this model immediately increases stability and availability.

Support Regional Autonomy

When the provincial EMS system struggles, it's local fire departments that step up. Fire-Based EMS would empower municipalities to take ownership of their service delivery, enabling tailored solutions that reflect real community needs while still participating in mutual aid systems for larger-scale emergencies.

The Path Forward

IAFF Alberta proposes a provincially funded, municipally delivered Fire-Based EMS system. This model draws on existing infrastructure and personnel, reduces duplication, enhances coordination, and delivers better patient outcomes.

Seven Alberta fire departments already run and defend this model with pride. Prior to the formation of Alberta Health Services, ten departments operated under fully integrated structures. The model is proven. It's scalable. It's reproducible. And it's ready to meet the challenges of today and tomorrow.