City of Waxahachie to provide fire-based EMS

Photo courtesy City of Waxahachie.

WAXAHACHIE — The Waxahachie City Council voted unanimously to approve Waxahachie-Fire Rescue providing fire department-based emergency medical services (EMS). With this decision, Waxahachie Fire-Rescue will take over emergency ambulance services for the City of Waxahachie beginning January 2016.

With this change, the City will purchase a total of four ambulances: three new units, and one reserve "demo" unit. A total of 24 new Firefighter EMT/Paramedic positions will soon be open to take over this service.

In late January 2015, the previous EMS provider, ETMC, notified the City of Waxahachie that they would be discontinuing service to Ellis County on March 1, 2015. Fire Chief Ricky Boyd, along with several other chiefs from surrounding cities, entered into an agreement with CareFlite to begin providing EMS services in the areas that were previously served by ETMC. CareFlite is currently providing those services within Waxahachie, and will continue to do so until January 2, when Waxahachie Fire-Rescue will take over. Through this process, there will not be a lapse in service.

"The recent changes in service, coupled with the growth of Waxahachie, make now a good time for the City of Waxahachie to move forward with providing our own emergency ambulance service. Fire Chief Ricky Boyd has an outstanding department already, and I have full faith the testing process will provide us with even more quality employees to fulfill and serve the needs of our growing community," Waxahachie City Manager Paul Stevens said.

Testing opportunities and an entrance exam will be given on August 8, 2015. Specific information regarding the exam and all employee benefits will soon be posted on www.waxahachie.com, www.waxahachiefire.org, and in person at City Hall at 401 S. Rogers. For more information, please call 469-309-4000.