CARMEL, Calif. - When it comes down to a matter of seconds to save a life, Carmel-by-the-Sea mayor, Jason Burnett said it shouldn't matter who comes to the rescue.
"I don't think its fair that someone that may be calling with a life emergency or simply in need of attention, they deserve to have the quickest response regardless of where they live."
Burnett said as the system works now, Carmel's city fire department paramedics respond to any emergency in the city limits, as well as, Carmel Valley and said it will pick up calls out of their service area if they are closer than AMR paramedics.
Now AMR wants lines to be drawn.
"Unfortunately, they are very clearly putting profits ahead of public safety and I think that is unacceptable," said Burnett.
AMR general manager, Doug Petrick, said his ambulances are stationed in areas specifically to allow Carmel's paramedics to focus on what is truly their responsibility.
"What's happening now, we are running more calls in that area and so the profit part is his loss. He's missing revenue cause we are actually running the calls," explained Petrick.
Last year, the Carmel-by-the-Sea Fire department responded to a total of 894 calls and said almost half of those were outside of their city limits.
