EMS
In 2016 the City stopped providing ambulance transportation as part of the Cal Tahoe JPA and converted its emergency medical services system delivery system to providing Advanced Life Support (paramedic) engine companies. The City of South Lake Tahoe currently still supports the Cal Tahoe JPA by providing fire station 2 as a location for Cal Tahoe Ambulances (Medic 1, Medic 3 ) until the contract expires in 2019. The El Dorado County contract had the City and its partners subsidizing the delivery of ambulance transportation by approximately 50%, and requiring on duty firefighting personnel to provide inter facility transports to locations as far away as Fresno and Chico. This was unacceptable from an all-hazard perspective and reduced the effectiveness of our delivery systems to the community.
Cal Tahoe JPA has its own website to learn more about the ambulance transportation component of services delivered within the City of South Lake Tahoe.
A study by the National Institute of standards and Technology (NIST) shows the size of firefighting crews has a substantial effect on the fire services ability to protect lives and property in residential fires. The City of South Lake Tahoe has taken steps to improve its fire and life safety delivery system by increasing the staffing on paramedic engines from 2 to 3 personnel.