Monroe Fire will stop responding to EMS calls

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In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Monroe Fire Department will temporarily stop responding on emergency medical services calls.

Acadian Ambulance serves Ouachita Parish and will continue to provide all EMS services.

Chief Terry Williams mentioned the possibility of cutting EMS response at a prior date and said the department would make the decision when the first COVID-19 cases were confirmed in Ouachita Parish.

The first two cases were confirmed Saturday and the total grew to nine Monday with one resident death.

Williams said the department's EMS coordinator contacted him today and recommended the move.

"This has been a very difficult decision for me," Williams said, "but as I think about it, when we respond to EMS calls, we go from house to house, and we do that constantly — all day and sometimes all night — and what we find right now is that we don't have the proper protective equipment to deal with the pandemic we are experiencing. Not only do we increase the exposure to our personnel, but we increase the exposure to the public."

MFD will continue to respond to all fire-related calls, technical rescue calls and any automobile accident, particularly those requiring extrication.

"We are going to hand it over to Acadian Ambulance, and I feel confident they are going to do a good job," Williams said, noting Acadian has the personal protective gear needed.

MFD plans to reevaluate the decision after the state stay-at-home order is lifted.

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