History of Emergency Medical Services in Roanoke
In January 1985, the City of Roanoke implemented the first paid EMS program to supplement the then three volunteer agencies providing emergency medical service. In 1989, the city formed the Emergency Medical Services Department under the supervision of the Manager of Emergency Services. With the volunteer component declining, a consultant was hired to study options of providing emergency medical service. Options considered were privatization, creation of an authority, fire-based service, and remaining a third service. The consultant recommended the fire-based approach to delivery of emergency medical services. In November 1995, under the management of a new Fire-EMS Chief, EMS merged with the fire department to create Roanoke Fire-EMS. This merger took several years to mature and train all personnel.
Roanoke Fire-EMS is the sole provider of 911 emergency medical service in the City of Roanoke. We operate with eight paramedic units 24 hours a day and one part time medic units during peak demand hours. All front-line fire engines and ladder trucks provide medical first response with automatic external defibrillators. We provide transport to two hospitals and the Veterans Administration Medical Center. All firefighter/paramedics are cross trained and are considered an integral part of the fire company and rotate duties on the engine, ladder and medic units.
For additional information about our emergency medical services, please contact Battalion Chief Dave Bishop at (540)853-5854 or by email at david.bishop@roanokeva.gov.