County City Squabble Ends Fire Based Paramedic Service in Stockton

Posted by: Curt Varone September 3, 2010 0

A four year battle with between the City of Stockton and San Joaquin County over EMS has resulted in the Stockton Fire Department having to discontinue paramedic level services that have been provided for over three decades. This case is one of several in California involving a dispute between counties and local government over EMS delivery by firefighters.

State law grants the authority to coordinate EMS services to the county, but provides that fire departments that provided a service dating back to June 1, 1980 were grandfathered. For those who have a copy of Fire Officer’s Legal Handbook, see the case in Chapter 3 of County of San Bernadino v. City of San Bernadino,  15 Cal. 4th 909, 938 P2d 876, (1997).

  

About Curt Varone

Curt Varone has over 45 years of fire service experience and 35 as a practicing attorney licensed in both Rhode Island and Maine. His background includes 29 years as a career firefighter in Providence (retiring as a Deputy Assistant Chief), as well as volunteer and paid on call experience. He is the author of two books: Legal Considerations for Fire and Emergency Services, (2006, 2nd ed. 2011, 3rd ed. 2014, 4th ed. 2022) and Fire Officer's Legal Handbook (2007), and is a contributing editor for Firehouse Magazine writing the Fire Law column.
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