City-Run Ambulances: A Major Step Toward Reality

Maricopa is making strides toward enhancing its emergency response capabilities. The city council, in a recent session, approved a resolution backing the Maricopa Fire/Medical Department’s (MFMD) bid to operate its own ambulances through the state health department.

This initiative, known as a certificate of necessity, seeks to demonstrate that MFMD can both manage and financially support ambulance services within a defined region. Fire Chief Brad Pitassi emphasized the significance of this application, stating it would diminish the department’s reliance on external ambulance services.

The approval process could extend over 24 months, but Pitassi anticipates that city-operated ambulance services could launch by late 2027. “By doing this, MFMD will offer complete pre-hospital emergency medical services within the city, which is critically important,” he commented.

This development aims to enhance the department’s focus on 911 pre-hospital care and improve service scalability based on community demands. Additionally, the initiative is part of a broader strategy that includes the acquisition of six ambulances in the upcoming fiscal year, with a projected budget of $2.7 million brought forth during a recent Council Budget and Finance Subcommittee meeting.