Ambulance Shortage Forces S.F. Fire Department To Place Emergency Call to Private Ambulances
On Aug. 30, the San Francisco Fire Department was forced to make emergency calls to private ambulances to transport patients to hospitals because of ambulance delays. Officials say there were 15 city ambulances on call, but runs were taking between 21 and 30 minutes as a result of a high volume of calls. The incident occurred just three days after representatives from the firefighters discussed the response time issue with the Fire Commission.
- "S.F. Fire Department Hires Private Ambulances Amid Major Shortage" (Matier/Ross, San Francisco Chronicle, 9/8).