For at least 15 years, Mesa fire officials have contemplated launching their own ambulance service but have always held back, deferring to the private sector.
That was when Southwest Ambulance was based in Mesa and the service provided met Mesa’s standards.
But the company is long gone, swallowed up by corporate mergers. Now, things have changed.
With a long-term contract with industry giant American Medical Response, or AMR, about to expire at the end of November, Mesa is exploring its options.
While no final decision has been made, the Mesa City Council is expected to authorize the purchase of six new ambulances on Monday, Aug. 31, at a cost of $1.6 million, doubling the city’s fleet to 12.
The move comes almost a week after Gilbert Town Council did the same thing, voting to purchase six ambulances and replace AMR – a move that company officials called unwarranted.