Firefighters Urge Action On EMS Shortage

A growing crisis in Long Beach’s emergency medical services was a huge topic at two recent City Council meetings, as firefighters warned that a shortage of paramedic units is putting both residents and first responders at risk.

At the March 4 City Council meeting, over 50 firefighters and paramedics demanded action toward councilmembers. During public comment, several shared stories of delayed ambulance responses due to a lack of available units.

The focus of their concern was Rescue 2, a paramedic ambulance unit currently operating part-time. Due to budget limits, the ambulance has been reduced to limited days and hours. The firefighters called for the city to fund Rescue 2 full-time, 24/7, and to expand ambulance coverage across the city.

Shortly after on March 5, the City Council approved a short-term funding extension to keep Rescue 2 running through the end of the 2026 fiscal year.

At the March 18 City Council meeting, city staff and fire officials returned to discuss the next steps. Fire Chief Dennis Buchanan reported that restoring Rescue 2 to a 12-hour daily schedule would cost roughly $419,000. But he warned that even that wouldn’t meet the city’s needs.

“To properly serve our city, we need at least 11 ALS [Advanced Life Support] units operating 24/7,” Buchanan said. Currently, Long Beach has only nine.

Lamont Nguyen, president of the Long Beach Firefighters Association, agreed and said the city’s ambulance-to-population ratio is twice the national average. He estimated that at least 12 ambulances are needed to meet the volume of 911 calls.

Councilmembers recited concerns raised on March 4. “We literally ran out of ambulances yesterday,” said Councilwoman Cindy Allen. “We’re seeing this happen every single day.”

City Manager Tom Modica acknowledged the severity of the situation but pointed to the city’s anticipated $61 million budget shortage. He emphasized that adding paramedic units would require trade-offs, as the city can’t take-on new ongoing expenses without cutting from elsewhere.

Mayor Rex Richardson noted recent voter-approved measures – including Measure LB and the upcoming sales tax increase – that could be used to prioritize public safety.

The council referred the issue to its Budget Oversight Committee to survey long-term funding options for Rescue 2 and other EMS needs. While no final decision was made, councilmembers indicated a desire to expand ambulance services during the upcoming budget negotiations.

For now, firefighters say the staffing crisis remains – and Long Beach residents may continue to feel the impact when calling 911.