I think it will be interesting to see what happens, and if it works. I was surprised how many people (I am assuming citizens) were complaining about the fire department wasting money by sending the large vehicles to medical calls or the grocery store, without really understanding why.
I wonder if people ever think about how many times firefighters end up riding to the hospital on an ambulance to help with the patient? Then the fire engine/truck is out of service and going to the hospital to pick up their personnel. Funny how nobody who commented on that article brought that up. I don't see anything wrong with that. It may seem like a waste of money to some people, but I would rather have more hands working to keep someone alive on the way to the hospital, and keeping the crews geographically closer so they can go back into service again after the call or transport. Not only that, but I think its helpful to have to fire department on medical calls in many cases, not only for response times but for the extra hands and the physical strength they can provide. I wish people would just realize that the life saving services that are provided to the community are expensive and thats just the cost of doing business. I used to think it was silly for an engine or truck to go to the hospital to pick up its personnel, but then they wouldn't have enough people on board to be in service anyway if they sent a smaller vehicle to go pick them up. I think the public needs to just trust the people they are counting on to be there when they call for help.