The Cascade Fire Department responds to about 3,000 calls each year, with more than 1,000 of them being non-life-threatening medical calls. As these calls continue to grow, fire leaders say they can tie up crews while other emergencies continue to come in.
Township leaders are now exploring a new ambulance transport program to help fill what they call a gap in the community.
Cascade Fire Chief Adam Magers said the department has been analyzing data for the past 18 months and noticed trends that are “unsustainable.” The high volume of medical calls — including falls, helping to lift someone, medical alarms and general illnesses — is putting increased demands on department resources…