NCFPD creates non-safety paramedic and EMT positions

A reclassification in North County Fire Protection District job positions will allow for paramedic and emergency medical technician personnel who are not also firefighters.

The NCFPD board voted 5-0, Dec. 12, to approve the reclassification of the position from safety to non-safety.

“In an effort to streamline operations, we’re reclassifying the positions in the ambulance,” NCFPD fire Chief Steve Abbott said. “It’s a salary reduction measure. It’s going to make our operations more efficient.”

Abbott noted that the savings would allow for funding of ambulance operations and replacements.

“The pay would be more in line with what a paramedic would make in the private sector versus what a firefighter-paramedic would make,” Abbott said.

In addition to the cost savings, the use of a paramedic rather than a firefighter-paramedic would allow the district to hire personnel who have emergency medical but not firefighting skills.

“One of our considerations has been to recruit more diversity and to recruit more within the community, and we think this will be an avenue to allow that to happen,” Abbott said.

Abbott noted that the fire department has positive ratings from the community when feedback surveys are taken.

“We’re very proud of that,” he said. “We think we can continue to do that by recruiting from within the community.”