South Summit Fire Protection District Chief Scott Torell has been steering volunteer firefighters toward an in-house emergency medical services model since becoming the fire district’s first full-time chief late last year.
Thorell was hired in December to help the fire district transition to providing its own EMS, including hiring its own emergency medical technicians and operating its own ambulances, by 2025.
“We’ve made really good progress. It’s a huge undertaking to try to start a full-time department,” Thorell said. He’s spent 30 years in the fire service, including 15 years in which he concurrently worked as a flight medic, and also helped a rural fire station in southern Utah build its EMS service.
Last year, Summit County restructured its three departments to manage a combined medical and firefighting system that started in January to comply with a state law passed in 2021.
House Bill 303 requires the county to provide EMS as an essential service through the municipal services fund and establish general criteria for services such as staffing two, full-time advanced EMTs on an ambulance.
The Summit County Council gave each fire department $1 million to pay for a basic level of service. Thorell estimates around 85% of South Summit calls are medical, which is pretty standard.
The Park City Fire District had historically handled EMS countywide but had long looked to separate from eastern Summit County.
Meanwhile, the North Summit Fire District looked to become independent and have its firefighters provide medical care. The County Council finally approved an interlocal agreement for North Summit Fire to provide EMS within its district boundaries in September after months of discussion.
However, the volunteer-run South Summit Fire didn’t have the budget or capacity to provide medical services as required by state law. So, they used $750,000 to contract with Wasatch Fire District for EMS. The rest is being used to pay for operational expenses or being saved for future improvements or equipment, according to Thorell.
Wasatch Fire provides two full-time advanced EMTs, 24 hours a day in South Summit. There are also two EMTs on standby near Hideout to ensure the area doesn’t go without service. Park City Fire will continue to provide two paramedics, who have the most advanced training for emergency medical situations.
In the meantime, the chief has been recruiting within the fire district and around town to help grow the ranks of the South Summit staff with future EMTs. His goal is to hire 14 full-time people with four people on duty at all times by January.
South Summit Fire has also been busier than Thorell expected. He thought the fire district would need three ambulances. Now, he thinks four is more accurate, though five or six could be appropriate at times for additional support.
Thorell said there’s aging equipment, but the fire district’s needs aren’t dire at the moment. To help pay for some of the improvements, the district’s commissioners approved a 112% tax increase in December. Previous tax revenues generated about $780,000 and another $800,000 will be generated by the raise.
The fire chief was also supportive of Summit County adopting the rural hospital sales tax.
The 1% fee on certain transactions is intended to offset the impact of tourism. The money would be used to help fund emergency medical services and fire protection as well as law enforcement and search and rescue. Wasatch County voters last year approved a 0.5% sales tax increase under the measure with overwhelming support.
Around 30% of calls in South Summit are from visitors, according to Thorell.
Putting equipment, protocols and policies in place has been the primary focus for the fire chief, followed by attaining and educating firefighters.
There are dozens of South Summit Fire volunteers, but not everyone can commit to the new schedule. Thorell estimates there are about 50 people total on the roster but only a handful are considering joining the fire department full time and earning the proper licensure for both.
South Summit Fire is about two-thirds finished with its first advanced EMT class. There are nine students, eight of whom are volunteers. The certifications are beneficial for them even if they don’t want to go full time because they can provide backup for the ambulances.
On Saturday, the class partnered with the University of Utah AirMed for aeromedical training. Students learned how to hot load. The process involves quickly putting a patient in an aircraft while it’s still running so the pilot can immediately take off after the individual is secured.
They’ll also learn about backboards, transporting patients, vehicle extrication and more.
Thorell would also like to organize a paramedic licensure class. Eventually, those staff could respond to a scene on their own to triage and stabilize a patient without using an ambulance.
Until then, the fire chief will continue working toward providing the best fire and EMS care to South Summit residents.
“We want to be a part of the community,” he said.