I give grudging credit to the building code and to fire suppression systems but actual we-have-to-put-this-out fires are rare. On the other hand, every time Granny slips on the sidewalk a pumper truck accompanies the ambulance to the site.
WHY?!?!?!?!
Most Firefighters on the firetruck are trained Medic’s who have all the equipment necessary to assist the patient except for means of transport. Sometimes their response time is quicker depending on the location of the ambulance.
Because granny on the sidewalk often weighs 400lbs these days.
Shhhh! You are going to kill the job!
My mom fell a year ago and I got her up in the chair. She had the Flu and was real weak. I didn't want to chance taking her to the ER myself due to the outside Temps and ice in her driveway. I had concern she would fall again and I would not be able to get her in the car or I would fall and we would both be down. So I called an ambulance on their regular phone number. I also said non emergency. The VFD's got there first and I didn't know they had been dispatched.
They dispatch FD's for things you don't think about but they do from experience. Needed extra lifting help, locked doors, an extra onboard paramedic on site if they get there and need two persons going to the hospital working with the patient in cases like CPR. In general it's a good policy that helps save lives. Many Fireman are medically cross trained.
I remember why they dispatched the VFD now. My moms house has a wooden bridge suitable for car and light pick up traffic but not for the weight of an ambulance. Thus the paramedics had to roll her about 300 ft to the ambulance. Six VFD’s showed up from the station in one utility vehicle and they were the first ones there.