Why does a Fire Engine come when I call for an Ambulance?

The Waterford Fire Department provides 24 hour, 7 days a week, 365 days a year service, a majority of emergency responses are for Emergency Medical Services.

Waterford Fire proudly provides Fire-Based First Response Emergency Medical Service, also known as R-1 Service.

Through the R-1 System; We strive to be the First, in First Responder.

R-1 enhances public service delivery by augmenting local ambulance transport providers with faster medical response.

•  Strategically Located Stations: Neighborhood Firehouses are spread throughout Waterford; meaning a Fire Department vehicle is frequently the closest emergency vehicle to a medical scene. Moreover; local ambulances frequently leave the department’s boundaries to transport patients to the hospital, while fire department vehicles remain available to respond to medical emergencies.·
•  Initial Stabilization: All Waterford paid personnel are certified Emergency Medical Technicians, allowing medically trained personnel to begin critical care, such as CPR, Oxygen Support, Bleeding Control, or Defibrillation several minutes before an ambulance which is crucial for improving outcomes in life-threatening or critical care situations.