Commission delays discussion on dispatching fire department

The Public Safety Commission on Monday postponed discussing the criteria for sending the fire department with emergency medical services to respond to medical calls. Medical Director Paul Hinchey committed more than a year ago to re-examine which medical calls warrant a response from both EMS and AFD. Vice Chair Mike Levy told the commission last month that sending AFD on every call was a drain on gasoline and time. Levy also emphasized the need for benchmarks to other cities, noting that most cities do not send their fire departments on every call. The commission will discuss the item at its next regular meeting March 2.