The Queen Creek Fire and Medical Department (QCFMD) has said it's committed to providing high-quality emergency services to the community with the addition of ambulance service, which launched Sept. 1 with the first of two ambulances now in service around town.
“As a department, we are excited to expand our service to the community,” QCFMD Chief Vance Gray said in a town press release yesterday. “The expansion directly aligns with the vision, mission and values of the department. The continuous pursuit of excellence, the promotion of public safety and welfare, and the health, safety and security of our members.”
In addition to the two units joining the QCFMD Emergency Transportation Services fleet Sept. 1, two more units are anticipated by the end of this month, providing the town with four full-time units in service and one unit available for use at the fifth station, said town officials. The staffed units in service will each have an EMT and an EMT-paramedic.
The town received its certificate of necessity (CON) from the Arizona Department of Health Services (AZDHS) in 2016 and has been providing a limited ambulance service. With neighboring municipalities expanding their municipal ambulance service, the private sector has decreased the number of units in the area. The town’s ambulance service will provide 24/7 coverage and flexible deployment to optimize response times.
"The department has looked at what is going on currently with our (ambulance) service provider and decided to go in another direction," Gray said in January. "Many years ago municipalities around Queen Creek started providing their own ambulance service and currently we're the only ones without our own service. Because more cities and towns around us (like Gilbert and Mesa) are providing their own services it's decreasing the number of AMR (American Medical Response, Inc.) ambulances and services as our provider. Less ambulances in the area decreases services to Queen Creek. We have less resources to provide the level of service we need and desire now. We've had a longstanding and good relationship with AMR and we'll strive to continue that when we get our ambulance service going..."
The town’s ambulance service will not result in a tax increase, according to Jennifer Lamis, the town's new public information officer. "Fees for service will offset a portion of the cost, and the remaining costs will be funded by the town’s operating budget. Fees for the town’s ambulance service are regulated by AZDHS. Patients who use the town’s ambulance service will receive a bill from the town (in lieu of the bill currently issued by the private provider)," Lamis wrote in the town's news release.
For more information about the town’s municipal ambulance program, visit QueenCreekAZ.gov/Ambulance.
QCFMD officially began serving residents in the Queen Creek community on Jan. 1, 2008, making this year the department's 15-year anniversary. In 2008, the town’s population was just over 24,000. In its first year of operation, the department launched with about 30 employees, two stations and two fire trucks. With a current population of approximately 71,000, the department has grown to meet the needs of the community, with 81 employees, five fire stations located strategically throughout the community and 12 vehicles.
Queen Creek now has five fire stations:
- Fire Station 1, 20678 E. Civic Parkway
- Fire Station 2, 24787 S. Sossaman Road
- Fire Station 3, 19159 E. Queen Creek Road
- Fire Station 4, 20155 S. Signal Butte Road
- Fire Station 5, 245 W. Combs Road
For additional information about QCFMD, visit QueenCreekAZ.gov/Fire.
