Paramedics began working out of Spokane Valley Fire Station 9 near the southern edge of Spokane Valley this fall for the first time since it opened in 2009.
While the station still only has a paramedic on duty about 40% of the time, it marks an important step toward the department having 24/7 paramedic coverage at all 10 of its stations, Valley Fire EMS Chief John Leavell said. Stations 4 in Otis Orchards and 10 in Greenacres also do not have paramedics on duty around the clock.
The issue for years has been the difficulty in getting enough paramedics to complete the 18-month training to replace retiring or departing paramedics as well as add new positions, Leavell said. Paramedics are crucial because they provide advanced life support care.
“We’ve got ALS gear on all the apparatus,” Leavell said. “We’re just short on paramedics. We’re slowly getting there.”