VIDEO: Spokane County Fire District 9 announced on Monday that it has applied for a transport license and plans to begin providing ambulance transport services for residents and businesses in the district next summer. SCFD9 says thorough emergency medical care, from on scene to the hospital, will be operated directly by the district’s firefighters, paramedics, and EMTs. The fire district says the license, provided through the Washington Department of Health, is a first for the county and will allow for faster response times, smoother hospital transitions, and improvements to affordable healthcare.
“District 9’s top priority has always been providing the most effective delivery of emergency services with the best possible outcomes across our district” said, Matthew Vinci, Fire Chief of Spokane County Fire District 9. “By moving ambulance transport services in-house, we are not only improving the continuity of care from the moment of emergency to the hospital doors, we’re also making the service more financially sustainable and transparent.”
Additionally, a new waiver program titled the Resident Waiver Program will eliminate ambulance bills for District 9 residents who are transported in District 9 ambulances. “This program is designed to remove the financial burden from our residents during medical emergencies,” said Chief Vinci. “It’s one more way we’re working to provide equitable and accessible emergency care, serving our citizens at the highest level.” The fire district says the medical service changes will go into effect on July 1, 2026.
