Overview

The Emergency Medical Services Division provides advanced life support services 24 hours a day to the citizens of this community and to those passing through. This is accomplished by staffing three advanced life support ambulances around the clock with dual‑trained Firefighter/Paramedics or Firefighter/Advanced EMTs. In addition, we staff three engine companies and a truck company in town with a Firefighter/Paramedic, giving these units advanced life support capabilities. The division also operates a single‑role Advanced Life Support (ALS) ambulance and a Basic Life Support (BLS) ambulance, each staffed seven days a week to enhance service coverage and response capacity.

Responsibilities

The City of Carson City Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Division is designated by ordinance as the primary provider for all emergency medical calls and ambulance inter‑facility transfers within city limits. Mutual aid agreements with neighboring counties further expand our ability to support our City and surrounding communities during times of high demand.

Access to EMS begins with Carson City’s enhanced 9‑1‑1 system, operated through a central public safety answering point within the Carson City Sheriff’s Department. Dispatch personnel are trained in Emergency Medical Dispatching (EMD) to ensure callers receive rapid and accurate assistance. Recently, the city upgraded to a state‑of‑the‑art Computer‑Aided Dispatch (CAD) system specifically optimized for EMS operations. This advanced platform integrates EMD protocols, real‑time unit tracking, and automated resource recommendations to ensure the closest and most appropriate medical unit is dispatched to every call. It also enables dispatchers to deliver detailed pre‑arrival instructions while medical teams are enroute, supporting faster, safer, and more efficient patient care.

Budget

The EMS Division budget supports fifteen career Firefighter/Paramedics. Additionally, fire suppression personnel are also certified Paramedics and Advanced Emergency Medical Technicians, meaning that all of our personnel are trained and state-certified emergency medical technicians (EMTs) at the intermediate or advanced level. These personnel respond to emergencies in our fully equipped advanced life support (ALS) ambulances and paramedic engine companies which serve as both firefighting engines and ALS response vehicles. These engines are equipped with cardiac defibrillators, which allow lifesaving rapid defibrillation by our personnel. This increased level of service provides early defibrillation from any fire engine or ambulance unit responding to medical emergencies.

Special Events

For special events, we continue to use two specialized vehicles which have the capability to respond in limited access areas as well as off-road areas. These units are equipped with medical supplies and equipment and are manned with EMS personnel as needed. They can navigate confined areas and gain access to patients where conventional vehicles cannot. They have proven their worth in such events as the Nevada Day celebration.

9-1-1 Calls

All 9‑1‑1 EMS calls, including routine transfers, are evaluated through our state‑of‑the‑art Computer‑Aided Dispatch (CAD) system, which uses certified Emergency Medical Dispatch (EMD) protocols to determine whether the situation requires a Basic Life Support (BLS) or Advanced Life Support (ALS) response. Based on this assessment, the closest and most appropriate units are dispatched. For higher‑acuity incidents, this may include both an ALS ambulance and a fire engine company to ensure adequate support on scene.

This system allows dispatchers to match the level of care to the patient’s needs while also ensuring rapid response times. In many cases, this results in sending up to five trained EMS personnel to provide comprehensive patient care. Although not every incident requires that many responders, the unpredictable nature of emergency medicine and our commitment to delivering the highest standard of care mean that we prioritize readiness and patient safety. When additional units are not needed, they are quickly released and return to service to remain available for other emergencies.

State-of-the-Art Advanced Medical Procedures

We are constantly striving to advance with technology, elevate clinical performance, and improve overall operational efficiency. Our integrated computer network connects all outlying stations with headquarters, creating a seamless information‑sharing environment. Personnel can enter data from any station directly into the central database, ensuring rapid access to critical information. This centralized system supports a wide range of essential functions, including hard‑copy reporting, quality‑assurance evaluations, statistical analysis, ambulance billing, and long‑term planning for service improvements.

Our commitment to advanced clinical care is reflected in the technologies we deploy in the field. We utilize state‑of‑the‑art cardiac monitoring systems capable of transmitting 12‑lead ECGs directly from the emergency scene to the Emergency Room. This capability enables rapid interpretation by hospital clinicians and allows eligible patients to be admitted straight into a cardiac catheterization procedure, bypassing the emergency room altogether. This streamlined pathway has been shown to significantly improve survivability and patient outcomes during acute cardiac events.

To further enhance our resuscitation capabilities, we have incorporated the ZOLL Autopulse mechanical CPR device into our operations. This device delivers consistent, high‑quality chest compressions during cardiac arrest incidents, even in challenging environments or extended transports. Its integration ensures our crews can provide uninterrupted, guideline‑compliant compressions while simultaneously managing airway interventions, medication administration, and scene coordination.

Our medical direction is under Dr. Dustin Holland who is board certified with a fellowship in EMS.  He has implemented progressive, evidence‑based clinical protocols that empower paramedics and EMTs to deliver rapid, precise, and effective care in a wide range of medical and trauma situations. These continuously updated protocols align with current best practices and allow our team to remain at the forefront of prehospital medicine.

Supporting all of these advancements is a fleet of state‑of‑the‑art ambulances designed to maximize safety, efficiency, and patient comfort. These units are equipped with advanced medical technology, ergonomic workspaces, improved suspension systems, and upgraded communication equipment—ensuring that our crews have the tools they need to provide exceptional care in any situation.

Together, these enhancements strengthen our ability to deliver high-quality emergency medical services and reinforce our ongoing commitment to clinical excellence, innovation, and the wellbeing of the community we serve.

Ambulance Billing

The Carson City Fire Department partners with a professional third party billing company to process EMS service claims, including billing private insurance, Medicare, and Medicaid. While we work with insurers to recover the costs of emergency medical care, we are firmly committed to ensuring that no one is ever denied or delayed service based on their ability to pay. Our mission is to provide the highest quality EMS care to every member of our community, and we take great pride in delivering compassionate, reliable service to all citizens of Carson City.

See our CC-Care+ Page for information on our Ambulance Subscription Program.