This August, Seattle Fire Department (SFD) firefighter/EMTs administered buprenorphine for the 100th time as part of their successful Buprenorphine Pilot Program to help patients experiencing an opiate overdose or active withdrawal. Following Mayor Harrell’s 2023 Executive Order on a public health and safety response to fentanyl, the pilot began in early 2024 with SFD paramedics and in late 2024 was expanded with Seattle becoming the first city in the country to allow firefighter/EMT-B rank to administer this lifesaving medicine.
“As the first city in the nation to operationalize firefighter/EMTs administering buprenorphine in response to the devastating opioid overdose crisis, Seattle is at the forefront of innovative solutions that will save lives,” said Mayor Bruce Harrell. “It’s an honor to celebrate the 100th administration of this evidence-based program that increases the chances that people recovering from an overdose or suffering withdrawal will say ‘yes’ to treatment and care. With a new post-overdose center coming online this month and our increased investments in treatment options, we are building a network of support for our family, friends, and neighbors taking the first step on their pathway to recovery.”
Buprenorphine is given to patients who are being treated for an opiate overdose or to those actively experiencing withdrawal symptoms. It temporarily stabilizes patients and provides short-term relief from withdrawal symptoms to allow emergency responders to better engage in conversations around treatment, recovery and social services.
As of August 2025, overdose deaths in Seattle are down 20% compared to 2024 and down 36% compared to 2023, according to King County Medical Examiner’s Office data.
“The fire department will always invest in taking steps to improve our patient care in the field,” said Fire Chief Harold Scoggins. “Through the expansion of allowing our firefighter/EMTs to administer buprenorphine, we continue to strive to fulfill our mission of saving lives by meeting patients where they are at in life. This program has proven time and time again that patients who receive this medication are more open to discussions about follow-up treatment, and our Health 99 and Health One units are well equipped to navigate those conversations.”
The department’s paramedics have administered the medicine 48 times, and with the 100th administration by firefighter/EMTs on August 15, this brings the total to 148 patients treated on separate occasions since the launch of the initial pilot program. Some patients included in this count were treated more than once by SFD responders, and the level of dose given varies.
SFD currently has about 54 paramedics and 19 firefighter/EMTs trained to administer the medicine. The department has transitioned to primarily having firefighter/EMTs who staff the post-overdose response team (Health 99) lead the effort for providing this life-saving treatment to patients in the field. Currently, SFD responds to approximately 63 patients per week experiencing an overdose across the city. Health 99 has responded to more than 1,376 overdoses since it launched in July 2023.
“Over the past nine months, we have witnessed firsthand how transformative field buprenorphine can be for immediate overdose response,” said SFD Mobile Integrated Health Program Manager Jon Ehrenfeld. “This medication relieves withdrawal symptoms, protects against overdose and provides an unparalleled opportunity for our clients to begin the process of recovery. This team has set a national example for how EMS systems can be part of the solution for opioid use disorders.”
