ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — Albuquerque Fire Chief Emily Jaramillo is forging ahead with a new paramedic deployment strategy set to launch August 23, despite pushback from the firefighters’ union, which claims it was left out of the planning process.
The deployment model aims to redistribute the city’s 212 paramedics across more units to improve response times and resource coverage. Under the plan, paramedics will be assigned to both ambulances and fire engines instead of concentrating two paramedics on each rescue unit — the current system.
Plan in Motion
Jaramillo confirmed that the rollout will begin at Stations 5, 11, and 12, joining Stations 2 and 3, which have piloted the model since 2023. The plan also includes a new Station 23 opening in late August and reassignment of Battalion 5 to improve command support in Southwest Albuquerque.
While the International Association of Fire Fighters Local 244 and the City Council have pushed for maintaining two-paramedic ambulance teams, citing safety and effectiveness, Jaramillo argues that the shift allows more efficient response to the city’s 104,000+ annual emergency calls.
“We’re not removing paramedics from critical calls — we’re putting them in more places,” Jaramillo said. “When it matters most, two paramedics still respond. They just arrive on separate vehicles.”
Feedback and Controversy
The union says firefighters were sidelined during planning, but Jaramillo disagrees. She said over 500 personnel attended extensive department meetings and that the plan was revised twice based on their feedback.
“This wasn’t a top-down directive,” she said. “Input was not only welcomed, it shaped the plan.”
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The issue has highlighted broader tensions between the union and city leadership. The union claims morale is suffering and that expertise is being ignored. Jaramillo acknowledges morale challenges but said she’s also received criticism of the union from within the department.
“One shift using the new model has some of the best morale I’ve seen,” she noted, adding that the rollout was scaled back from citywide implementation in response to concerns raised by the mayor and union leaders.
What’s at Stake
The heart of the debate is whether splitting paramedic resources across more trucks will lead to better service or compromise care. The City Council passed a resolution in March requiring two-paramedic ambulance teams — a move the union supports.
Jaramillo, however, points to research backing her approach. She cited a 2010 National Institute of Standards and Technology study showing that one-paramedic-per-vehicle teams completed critical tasks faster than the traditional setup.
To support the rollout, a July internal memo outlines how paramedics will bid for assignments — with one assigned to fire engines and another to rescue units. The department has also corrected pay inequities that previously hindered the model’s feasibility.
Broader Implications
The staffing model aligns with trends in other fire departments, Jaramillo said, pointing to positive feedback from departments in Phoenix and Henderson, Nevada, that have made similar changes.
While the union and City Council have filed legal action challenging the implementation, Jaramillo is confident the revised deployment strategy will enhance both coverage and job flexibility.
“Paramedics often get stuck on ambulances and miss out on gaining broader firefighting experience,” she said. “This change helps balance the workload and keep skills sharp.”
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Moving Forward
Jaramillo said she will monitor patient outcomes and response metrics as the program expands, particularly in Southeast Albuquerque, where call volumes are among the city’s highest.
“If the data shows we need to pivot, we’ll do that,” she said. “But right now, this model puts us in a better position to respond when and where we’re needed most.”
Despite ongoing legal challenges, the Fire Department plans to proceed with the deployment as scheduled, emphasizing its commitment to providing high-quality emergency care throughout the city.
