The effort to accurately measure the actual costs of Prince George Fire Rescue responding to medical calls would be a “significant undertaking,” according to a report attached to the agenda for the next Standing Committee on Intergovernmental Affairs meeting on Tuesday, April 1.
The report said that in 2023, Prince George city council lobbied the provincial government to introduce a funding model that would reimburse local governments whose fire and rescue services who attend to emergency medical calls.
In response, the report said, the Ministry of Health said that municipalities can voluntarily enter agreements with BC Emergency Health Services determining the extent of their participation, thereby managing the costs related to pre-hospital care.
Another report issued last year by city staff said that cost estimates for PG Fire Rescue attending to calls are difficult to make as one call might require few resources by BC Ambulance Service and another may require extensive resources.
One attempt to help manage these costs, the 2025 report said, is the addition of another officer on each shift this year to allow PG Fire Rescue to send a small, retrofitted vehicle in response to medical incidents instead of “a fully staffed apparatus.”
While it might be possible to get a rough idea of the costs through collaboration between the city’s finance department and fire services department, establishing actual costs including labour and supplies is believed to be a significant undertaking.
It would involve changes to software, record management and procedure to collect the data needed.
City council would need to provide direction as well as funding to make this possible.
The meeting starts at 10 a.m. in the second-floor conference room at Prince George City Hall.
