A successful pilot program last year has prompted the Spokane Valley Fire Department to permanently add an Alternative Response Unit to the department to respond to minor medical calls. A similar program is also in use by the Spokane Fire Department. The two-man crew on Medic 7 responds to lower priority calls that do not require a full crew or firefighting equipment, such as minor illnesses or falls. The crew includes a paramedic and an EMT. The crew travels the area served by the department in a pickup stuffed with medical equipment and supplies. A paramedic is included in the two-man crew because sometimes a call that seems minor can quickly develop into a life-threatening emergency, said Deputy Chief of Operations Shawn Arold.