Seb Wong

Con Fire as it is known out here is the major fire protection department and ALS First Response for Contra Costa County. The next largest department in Contra Costa County is Richmond Fire Department. The EMS ambulance transport for Co Co County is contracted to AMR through a competitive bid through a RFP process. AMR recently won the bid a few years ago and will be the transport provider for a few more years until the next RFP. The only fire department in Co Co County that has a transport capability is the Moraga/Orinda Fire Protection District.

Hello Mr. Ruff, Haven't popped up in the past few months since our last email exchange. I hope you are doing well and your new baby is very beautiful. Having worked for a private ambulance company contracted with providing emergency medical services to a city across from San Francisco, a Health Department third service, and finally a traditional fire department that absorbed the Health Department third service; I would have to say that the fire based EMS system in my home town has come through. I can see now that we have the resources that we need to deliver the care to our citizens at a level that they deserve to receive. The reality is that we have a positive Chief that is supportive of the EMS mission; if that leadership changes, then I don't know what will happen. I don't think that there is any better service delivery model for one versus the other. The key point is that the best EMS provider for any community is the provider that the community wants to have. In many cities, townships, counties, cities or whatever geopolitical entity, it is also the one provider that the community can afford. It is no secret why the IAFF and the IAFC are interested in doing EMS, but many excellent fire departments have been providing good EMS from the beginnings of our nascent profession. Many of the strong third services like Boston and City of Austin/Travis County have a good track record and demonstrated to their communities the value that they provide. They do it daily with high quality care and positive public relations to their respective constituencies. I think how things might be different if instead of merging in 1997, the third service I worked for got 30 million dollars from the budget of the fire department and built a very robust EMS System. But the political reality would have never allowed such a shift of general funds. Perhaps when one day, the profession can get unified, the path might be more distinct. Take care, Seb

This was actually the Berkeley Police Department and the University of California in cooperation with Alta Bates Hospital who produced this film. BPD provided the emergency ambulance ambulance service for the City of Berkeley until the late 1970's when the Berkeley Fire Department took over the function. Dr. Heinrich Beernink who plays the fledgling BPD officer still maintains an office in OB/GYN practice.

Dear Fireflymedic, Thank you for the understanding. If you are ever in San Francisco, please allow me to show you our department's hospitality. Seb Wong