For years, Arizona municipalities contracted with private ambulance companies for service. A recent trend has Valley municipalities — especially on the eastern side — shows them switching back to fire departments providing all emergency medical and ambulance service themselves.
The switch seems to have some long-term cost benefits. But control over several service and workplace elements seems to be the main driver of the change.
Chandler recently became the latest Valley municipality to change direction, with the city council recently hearing from its fire chief at a work session about a proposed moved toward Chandler Fire Department ambulances and crew.
