WASHINGTON — Fire Chief Gregory Dean is expected to ask the D.C. City Council on Tuesday morning to approve a plan to put private ambulances on the streets of Washington.
D.C. Fire and EMS are struggling to keep enough city ambulances running while 911 calls have surged.
Earlier this year, there was no ambulance within seven miles of a stricken baby in Southeast who later died.
Fox 5 reports Dean will ask the council to approve a plan to shore up city ambulance service with up to 20 private ambulances.
The privately contracted ambulances would reportedly run 24 hours a day answering low-priority emergencies, easing stress on the city ambulance fleet and allowing city vehicles time to get much-needed maintenance.
Fox 5 also reports that Mayor Muriel Bowser’s office will seek approval through emergency legislation.
