Outside funds from the Texas Ambulance Services Supplemental Payment Program will provide money to the Corpus Christi Fire Department to purchase lifesaving equipment. Courtesy photo
The Corpus Christi City Council approved $3 million in funding for the fire department to purchase needed equipment at its regular bi-monthly meeting. The equipment is needed to meet the demands of a growing city, city staff said.
The $3 million comes from the Texas Ambulance Services Supplemental Payment Program, which gives money to supplement the cost of services provided to Medicaid beneficiaries and uninsured patients.
In Fiscal Year 2021, the city received a $4.8 million program grant allocating $1.8 million to the fire department to replace one engine truck and purchase 140 self-contained breathing apparatuses.
“This is a great news item for the city of Corpus Christi,” Mayor Paulette Guajardo said. “The Corpus Christi Fire Department has the full support of the City Council as they pursue additional funding sources to assist with the purchase of important and lifesaving equipment.”
In addition to the new fire engine, the fire department will purchase 25 cardiac defibrillators, cardiac monitors for all city ambulances, 21 Lucas devices, battery-powered mechanical chest compression devices, and needed audiovisual equipment.
“The equipment will give our firefighters and paramedics tools that will make them more efficient and will save lives,” Fire Chief Robert Rocha said.
