Bonds Would Cut Response Time, Fire Officials Say

LOS ANGELES —  Firefighters and paramedics could respond to emergencies in some parts of the city in five minutes, rather than the six to seven minutes it now takes, if voters approve an April bond issue, officials said Monday.

“It would go a long way to save lives,” said paramedics Capt. William Wells. “Seconds and minutes count, particularly in getting paramedics quickly to a heart attack patient.

The reduction in response times will be a cornerstone of the Fire Department’s effort to get voters to approve the $744-million bond measure for police and fire stations on the April 13 ballot.

Some fire stations set for replacement currently do not have enough room for an ambulance, so medical vehicles have to be sent from neighboring stations, which takes longer, Wells said.

Having large enough and properly located fire stations with paramedics and ambulances is important because 80% of the emergency calls to the Fire Department are for medical problems.

The bond proposal is a key part of a Fire Department strategy to improve response times so that 90% of emergency calls are responded to in five minutes. Currently, 39% of emergency calls citywide get a response within five minutes, said Capt. Ralph Terrazas.