One critical component of ensuring the safety and well-being of Fort Dodge citizens is emergency medical services (EMS), which, despite its integral role in public safety, is not currently classified as an essential service. This leaves the community vulnerable and exposes local businesses to potential risks in the event of an emergency.

Fort Dodge Fire Rescue, which provides EMS alongside fire services, is asking local businesses and residents to vote to make EMS an essential service in the upcoming referendum on March 4.

In 2024, Fort Dodge Fire Rescue responded to 5,324 total calls for service, with 4,852 of those occurring within the city limits.

Of these, 3,479 were EMS-related, highlighting the high demand for EMS services in Fort Dodge. This demand is only expected to grow, making it essential to ensure that the EMS system is properly funded and staffed to meet these needs.

Currently, Fort Dodge Fire Rescue operates three ambulances during the day and two at night. However, when multiple emergencies occur simultaneously, there are not always enough ambulances to respond to each call. In these cases, staff may need to be redirected from fire apparatus to cover ambulance calls, which can slow down fire response times.

In 2024, there were 217 instances where no units were available to respond immediately to EMS calls, and 391 calls experienced delayed response times.

On 84 occasions, response times exceeded seven minutes, which is considered a critical delay.

This issue extends beyond EMS calls alone. In 2024, Fort Dodge Fire Rescue responded to 45 building fires. On seven occasions, fire units were unavailable to respond to fires because they were tied up with EMS calls. These delays in fire response can have significant consequences, potentially affecting the safety of businesses, homes, and the broader community.

The City of Fort Dodge currently funds the Fire Department for fire protection, but the ambulance service is not considered essential. This means that the city could choose to discontinue the ambulance service at any time, leaving the community and businesses vulnerable during a crisis. If EMS were to be recognized as an essential service, funding would be secured, ensuring that Fort Dodge Fire Rescue has the resources it needs to respond to emergencies without compromising its ability to protect citizens from fires.

If EMS becomes an essential service, funding would be allocated to purchase an additional ambulance, build a second fire station on the west side of Fort Dodge, and hire more staff. This will ensure that there are enough ambulances to cover the city and surrounding areas, reducing response times and increasing the availability of resources during emergencies. Residents and businesses, especially those located on the west and northwest sides of the city, will benefit from improved EMS access, which will help ensure a faster response during critical situations.

Moreover, Fort Dodge Fire Rescue serves a larger area than just the city itself. The department is responsible for EMS calls across the entire northern portion of Webster County, including major highways like U.S. Highway 20 and U.S. Highway 169, and popular destinations such as Gypsum City OHV Park, Dolliver Memorial State Park, Lakeside Municipal Golf Course, John F. Kennedy Memorial Park, Fort Dodge Regional Airport, and the Harlan and Hazel Rogers Sports Complex. Many businesses in the region rely on these areas to attract customers and visitors, meaning that reliable EMS service is vital to safeguarding these commercial interests as well.

In short, designating EMS as an essential service is critical not just for public safety, but for the continued well-being of Fort Dodge. Securing funding for EMS ensures that the resources are in place to meet the growing demand for emergency services and guarantees that businesses and residents alike will have access to timely and effective emergency medical care when it is needed most.

Matt Price is the assistant fire chief in Fort Dodge.