Tri-Township Fire Department adds new ambulances to service Clark County, Indiana

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) — The wait time for an ambulance is supposed to be just minutes, certainly not 20 minutes. Last year in Clark County, Indiana, there were 20,000 calls for an ambulance last year. The more calls means longer wait times.

The Tri-Township Fire Department in Clark County found they were waiting 15 to 20 minutes for a private ambulance. So, they decided to buy their own ambulances. A fire truck with firefighters on board is most likely going to be the first to show up at an emergency.

“First responder calls have become a great big part of what we do,” said Tri-Township Fire and Rescue Chief Amir Mousavi.

Chief Mousavi said it makes perfect sense to have a trained paramedic, that is someone capable of providing emergency medical care to critical patients on every fire engine. A trained paramedic can jump into the private ambulance if they are not appropriately staffed.

“So, we have become sort of force multiplier out here," Chief Mousavi said.

The one thing the department lacked was an ambulance to take patients to the hospital.

“So it makes no sense for us to wait 10-15-20 minutes for an ambulance to get there if we are already providing paramedic level care,” said Chief Mousavi.

Tri-Township's two new ambulances just hit the streets a few weeks ago.

The private ambulance company the department was using was New Chapel EMS. They provide service for all of Clark County until 2026. Chief Mousavi said it is time to reconsider all private public safety contracts.

“We do not privatize police service, and we when we can avoid it, we don't privatize fire service, ambulance service is the same way, it shouldn't be privatized," Chief Mousavi said.