Emergency ambulance contracts in limbo, risking Detroit response time delay

April 29, 2026

Detroit City Council voted 4-3 to delay approval of approximately $5 million in three-year contracts with three private ambulance companies, sending them back to committee for further review amid opposition from the firefighters' union and some council members. The Detroit Fire Fighters Association, representing 1,200 members, argues the city should handle all emergency medical calls in-house rather than relying on supplemental private services that currently handle 25% of call volume and about 50,000 medical calls annually. Fire department officials warn that rejecting the contracts, which expire May 1st, could significantly increase emergency response times since the city would need to hire approximately 120 additional firefighters and purchase 18 more ambulances to maintain current service levels.

Who is affected

Detroit residents requiring emergency medical services
Detroit Fire Fighters Association (Local 344) with approximately 1,200 members
Detroit Fire Department personnel and leadership (including Second Deputy Commissioner Derek Hillman and Chief of Staff Elisa Malile)
Three private ambulance companies: Hart EMS, AmeriPro EMS, and Superior Air-Ground Ambulance Service, Inc.
Approximately 86 Detroit residents employed by the three private ambulance vendors
Detroit City Council members (specifically Angela Whitfield-Calloway, Renata Miller, Mary Waters, Denzel McCampbell, Scott Benson, Coleman A. Young, and Latisha Johnson)
People visiting the city of Detroit who may require emergency medical services

What action is being taken

Detroit City Council is sending the three-year ambulance service contracts back to committee for further review
The Detroit Fire Department is working towards a resolution to address the emergency situation and prevent gaps in critical coverage
Four supplemental ambulances are currently operating 24 hours per day under existing contracts
The fire department operates 26 EMS rigs daily, with supplemental ambulances bringing the total to just above 40 ambulances per day on 12-hour shifts
The three ambulance vendors are currently absorbing about 25% of the department's overall call volume and about 50,000 medical calls per year

Why it matters

This issue is critical because it directly impacts emergency medical response times for Detroit residents and visitors requiring urgent care, with the current Code 1 medical emergency response time under 7 minutes and 30 seconds. The decision has significant financial implications, involving $5 million in contracts and potentially requiring $300,000 per ambulance for new equipment purchases if services are brought in-house. The debate reflects a broader tension between supporting union jobs and building municipal capacity versus maintaining immediate service levels through private contractors. Without approved contracts after the May 1st expiration, fire department officials warn response times will increase significantly and immediately affect the city's ability to handle medical emergencies, while requiring the hiring of approximately 120 additional personnel and procurement of 18 more ambulances to maintain current service levels. The situation also raises questions about long-term municipal planning, as union officials argue the city has failed to develop a transition plan despite knowing their position for years.

What's next

The existing contracts for supplemental emergency ambulance coverage expire at midnight on May 1
The contracts will undergo further review in a council committee before returning for another vote
The Detroit Fire Department stated it is working towards a resolution to prevent gaps in critical coverage
Fire department leadership indicated that a multi-year ramp-up process would be needed to transition to fully in-house services, requiring arrangement of funding, acquisition of equipment, hiring of more than 100 firefighters, and conducting training
Council members suggested the administration could propose a one-year contract extension instead of the three-year agreements

Read full article from source: bridgedetroit.com