Yakima Fire Department may send only paramedics for non-fire calls

YAKIMA — The Yakima Fire Department is no longer sending fire trucks on every call for emergency medical services.

Dispatchers will decide whether a call can be handled by an ambulance.

Deputy Chief Bob Stewart told KIMA-TV that running trucks to every bloody nose or sore foot wears them out. He says trucks and firefighters will be saved for critical emergencies.

The fire department says three-quarters of its emergency calls require only paramedics.

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Information from: KIMA-TV, http://www.kimatv.com/