City of Evansville Launches In-House EMS System Under Evansville Fire Department

EVANSVILLE, Ind.- July 1, 2026 - The City of Evansville today announced a major milestone in public safety and emergency healthcare: the launch of its fully operational, in-house emergency medical services (EMS) system within the Evansville Fire Department (EFD), marking a significant step toward a fully integrated, fire-based system.

Beginning today, the full fleet of paramedics and EMTs employed directly by the Evansville Fire Department (EFD) will provide advanced life support services alongside firefighters and EMTs, creating a more coordinated emergency response model designed to improve patient care and response times throughout the city.

The transition reflects years of planning and preparation by city leadership and the Evansville Fire Department and represents a historic expansion of EFD's role in serving the community.

"Every resident deserves access to timely, high-quality emergency medical care when they need it most," said Mayor Stephanie Terry. "Bringing paramedics in-house strengthens our emergency response system, improves coordination between first responders, and helps ensure that the people of Evansville receive the highest level of care from the moment they call 911. This is an investment in public safety, public health, and the future of our city."

Now, under this model, all firefighters, EMTs, and paramedics operate within a unified system, allowing for seamless communication, streamlined decision-making, and enhanced patient care during medical emergencies. Evansville now has 80 fire and EMS responders deployed across the city, around the clock, with 16 Basic Life Support (BLS) units handling routine medical calls, trauma stabilization and transport, and 9 Advanced Life Support (ALS) units staffed with paramedics capable of providing critical, life-saving care.

The City of Evansville and the Evansville Fire Department worked diligently to build the program from the ground up, including recruiting personnel, developing protocols, analyzing call volume and historical run data, securing equipment, establishing training programs, and strategically positioning units at fire stations to reach the greatest number of calls, as quickly as possible.

"This is a proud moment for the Evansville Fire Department and for the community we serve," said Fire Chief Tony Knight. "Our team has spent countless hours preparing for this transition. By bringing these paramedics and EMTs into the department, we are strengthening coordination across emergency services and creating a more unified response system. This integration ensures that firefighters, EMTs and paramedics can work seamlessly together with one mission: delivering exceptional care to our citizens when seconds matter most."

Further, under this new system:

• All units follow the same national medical protocols used by private providers
• Deployment is tailored based on real local data
• Strong partnerships with local hospitals and agencies enhance coordination while maintaining local accountability
• New stretcher systems allow crews to load and transport patients while remaining upright, reducing injury risk and improving stability for both patients and responders
• LifePak 35 cardiac monitors provide more advanced and accurate detection of cardiac events, allowing for quicker, more informed treatment decisions in the field

The City expects the transition to create a more responsive, efficient, and sustainable emergency medical services system while strengthening coordination between first responders and healthcare providers across the region.