OKCFD launches Supplemental Transport Service, puts first ambulance into service to support EMSA

OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) — On Monday night, the Oklahoma City Fire Department put their first ambulance into service as part of their Supplemental Transport Service to support EMSA.

The new OKCFD ambulance was put into service at 7 a.m. on Monday, June 3, and is the first of four total ambulances that will support EMSA during high call volumes.

The three other ambulances are expected to be operational within the next couple of months, according to OKCFD.

In June 2023, the Oklahoma City City Council approved the 2024 fiscal budget, which provided funding for 40 staff positions to operate the ambulances. OKCFD began searching for potential candidates shortly afterward in July.

“The Oklahoma City Fire Department has served the OKC Community since 1889 and this partnership demonstrates our continued focus on our residents, their safety, and building a strong and thriving community,” OKCFD Fire Chief Richard Kelley said.

EMSA President and CEO Johna Easley released the following statement addressing the partnership between EMSA and OKCFD.

For the past year and a half, EMSA has worked with the City of Oklahoma City to develop a contract for special arrangements and an operations plan for a supplemental EMS service operated by the Oklahoma City Fire Department. EMSA will remain the sole source EMS provider for the City, and this new partnership with OKCFD will provide operational continuity and compliment the EMS services residents receive from EMSA. The launch of this supplemental service was a collaborative effort with the leadership of OKCFD and the City of OKC, and we appreciate their commitment to providing the residents of Oklahoma City with high quality EMS. We are proud to have been Oklahoma City’s EMS provider since 1990, and we will continue to deliver excellent clinical care and customer service to our community for decades to come. Pre-hospital care is an important piece of a community’s healthcare infrastructure, and whether the EMS professional is wearing an EMSA uniform or an OKCFD uniform, OKC residents will be well served.

Johna Easley, EMSA President and CEO

OKCFD also provided answers to some frequently asked questions about the Supplemental Transport Service.

Does the City of Oklahoma City plan to replace EMSA units with OKCFD ambulances?

No – OKCFD is proud to partner with EMSA to provide high level EMS care and transport services. The goal is to assure operational continuity in EMS transport services for all residents, visitors and business owners in OKC.

Can I request either EMSA or OKCFD for my medical emergency?

No – the closest and most appropriate ambulance will respond to medical emergencies in the City of Oklahoma City with no preference given to either response entity.

Will my EMSAcare membership cover my out-of-pocket costs if OKCFD transports me to a hospital?

Yes – EMSAcare memberships will apply to emergency transports by OKCFD.

Will the cost of an OKCFD emergency transport be the same as EMSA’s?

Yes.