AFR Ensures Improved Paramedic Response

Albuquerque Fire Rescue is announcing key operational and staffing changes to better serve Albuquerque residents. These changes ensure that when 911 is called in high demand districts, you will get a paramedic and a firefighter responding immediately on scene. Now, both Rescues and Engines will be staffed with a paramedic in critical parts of Albuquerque.

Neighborhoods across Albuquerque will benefit immediately from these changes by expanding paramedic and intermediate level EMTs across several districts. This staffing model is used by departments across the state, including Bernalillo County Fire and Rescue.

“I have been working on these operational changes using AFR response data and research into best practices from across the country,” said Fire Chief Emily Jaramillo. “These changes allow AFR to send paramedics to more calls in critical areas without compromising the safety of firefighters. These changes will also open up the opportunity for firefighters to rotate into different positions on our trucks to maintain both their fire and EMS skills. As a paramedic for almost 20 years, I can personally attest to the importance of these changes for not only our EMS service delivery, but for the career path of our firefighters."

AFR Engines have traditionally been staffed with four personnel at the EMT-Basic level. AFR Rescues have been staffed with two personnel at the EMT-Paramedic level. In 2021, AFR began expanding service delivery by moving one paramedic from the Rescue and replacing them with an EMT basic, doubling the response capability. This change has proven to be safe and effective in the delivery of quality clinical care.

In 2025, AFR is expanding this staffing strategy to four additional stations while also incorporating an EMT Intermediate level response on five engines, bringing the total of nine districts with an expanded service delivery. These stations include Stations 9, 12, 15 and 20 with paramedic coverage on an engine. One EMT-Intermediate firefighter will be added to the Engine at Stations 8, 11, 14, 16, and 22. Not only can these firefighters deliver a higher level of care, but they will also free up paramedic resources who can then respond to higher acuity calls for service.

“As medical director, I am so proud of the excellent care that all of our firefighters provide every single day,” said AFR’s Medical Director, Dr. Kimberly Pruett. “With ever increasing call volumes, patient acuity, and transport times, AFR leadership is making very thoughtful changes to staffing models in order to ensure its highest trained medical providers remain immediately available to respond to life threatening emergencies in their districts.”

It is important to note that the staffing levels of trained firefighters remain the same, four personnel on the Engine, and two personnel on the Rescue.
AFR is currently conducting station bids to align with the new staffing models and will be implementing these operational changes in March of 2025.