Roving Paramedics and Ambulances

In May 2024, Hillsborough County Fire Rescue created a pilot program with five roaming three-person paramedic units using existing crews to cover peak periods in key areas. The program proved to be a success.

It helped reduce response times by increasing the number of staff and availability during high demand. In certain circumstances, a rescue unit in the pilot program could arrive two minutes faster than a rescue unit leaving from a fire station, a critical improvement when every second counts to save lives.

Success leads to new Peak Rescue Division

Due to the success of the pilot program, Hillsborough County Fire Rescue created a Peak Rescue Division of roving paramedics and ambulances that offer efficient and quick response times to medical calls and transports, helping to save lives throughout the County.

The Peak Rescue Division adds a total of 48 Hillsborough County Fire Rescue first responders. They include 20 rescue lieutenants and 26 paramedics. A section chief and training officer manage the division. The goal is to have the Peak Rescue Division, administered under the Rescue Division, operating in the spring of 2026.

The Board of County Commissioners approved the new division. It also approved the purchase of five new rescue units for the Peak Rescue Division.

The division will have a total of 10 units that will be on the move and operating away from fire stations. It will be staffed 12 hours a day, seven days a week, including holidays. The units will operate from 7 AM to 10 PM, which is the busiest time for emergency calls.

Flexibility is key to reducing response times

Because the Peak Rescue units aren't assigned to a fire station, they are more nimble and flexible to respond to calls wherever they may be needed, helping to reduce response times. This also will free up paramedics who are assigned to specific stations to respond to more calls for service.

With the additional units in service, Fire Rescue expects to reduce some of its current reliance on third-party ambulance companies. While Fire Rescue expects the number of medical transports to increase, the medical transport revenue will offset the increase in cost to manage the additional units.