San Marcos To Station Ambulance in Subdivision To Reduce Response Times
The city of San Marcos plans to station an ambulance in the San Elijo Hills development to help reduce medical and fire response times to the area, the San Diego Union-Tribune reports. According to a report by Fire Chief Larry Webb, it takes an average of four minutes 44 seconds for emergency workers to respond to medical emergencies and rescues in most of the city but eight minutes 46 seconds to respond to calls in San Elijo Hills. Webb said that the slower times are because of the distance between San Elijo Hills and the rest of the city, as well as construction on the major access road. The ambulance, which will have a full complement of medical gear and will be equipped to fight small fires, will be stationed in the development early next month. The two-firefighter team that operates it will live in an apartment in the development's community building. However, critics say that the city's plan is inadequate. San Elijo Hills, which is under construction, currently has about 1,200 homes and 2,500 residents, but more than 10,000 residents will live in almost 4,000 homes in the development when it is completed in the next several years, according to the Union-Tribune. The city council will review the issue Oct. 28 (Berhman, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10/8).
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