Rescue Ambulance

The department has three R/A(Rescue Ambulance) deployed in the county. Santa Barbara County Fire Department was at the forefront of the firefighter/paramedic introduction to field. Although the primary Advanced Life Support (ALS) transport and paramedic contract provider for the county is the private ambulance company American Medical Response (AMR), there are pockets of areas in which we provide both dedicated ALS coverage and patient transport to hospital facility. When necessary, the R/A will also respond mutual-aid with other agencies.

To meet that need, we utilize a Ford modular-style ambulance with advanced life support capabilities. Stations 17 (UC Santa Barbara), 51 (Vandenberg Village), and 41 (Cuyama Valley) house those units. The R/A will also respond with an initial assignment to structure fires or multi-engine calls regardless of contract area, to ensure timely paramedic-level treatment.