Six diesel ambulances with systemic exhaust problems have sickened Sacramento firefighters enough to send them to local emergency rooms as patients, the firefighters union and city said Friday.
The city of Sacramento has removed those ambulances from the firefighting fleet and is planning to replace another eight units that may develop a similar problem.
Until new ambulances arrive, which could take months, the city has “borrowed” two units from the Sacramento Metropolitan Fire District, which covers areas of Sacramento County outside the city, and will rely on a resource-sharing agreement with that agency to fill gaps in service caused by the lack of ambulances, said acting Sacramento Fire Department Chief Chad Augustin.