Ambulance Program

Brea's New In-House Ambulance Program

In order to enhance service to the Brea community, the Brea Fire Department is developing an in-house ambulance program. Rather than contracting with a private ambulance company, the fire department will own and operate the ambulances, and the ambulance operators/Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs) on the ambulances will be City employees. The in-house ambulance program is anticipated to be fully implemented by January 2025.

There are several benefits to having an in-house ambulance program. Primarily, it enables the Brea Fire Department to maintain a higher level of control over the quality of services provided. These services include, monitoring staff training, adhering to protocol, and overall patient care.

In addition, an in-house ambulance program can foster a stronger sense of community engagement. Residents will feel a greater connection with a service that is directly operated by the Brea Fire Department. The ambulance operators will become more familiar with local geography and the culture of the Brea community. There is also an added benefit of succession planning. The ambulance operators/EMTs have a high possibility of promoting to Brea firefighters.

As part of the development of this program, the City has entered into a contract with Wittman Enterprises. As of July 1, 2024, Wittman Enterprises has taken over the billing component of ambulance transportation. Brea’s current contracted private ambulance provider, Emergency Ambulance Services (EAS) Inc., will continue providing transport services in Brea until January 2025, at which time, all services will be transferred over to the Brea Fire Department.

The City’s in-house ambulance program will consist of two dedicated ambulance vehicles, staffed 24-hours a day with two ambulance operators/EMTs, dispatched by the Metro Cities Communications Center. The dedicated ambulances will be housed at Brea Fire Station #2 (200 N. Brea Blvd) and Brea Fire Station 3 (2600 Santa Fe Rd)

FAQs

Will I be charged if I call 911 and Brea Fire responds on a medical aid call?

Brea Fire does not charge for medical calls. The only cost will be if the patient is transported to the hospital via ambulance.

Does Brea offer a Fire subscription like other cities?

Some cities offer a subscription service which covers unlimited service visits and medical treatment from EMT's and Paramedics. Many of these subscription services do not cover ambulance transport. Brea does not offer a subscription service. Since Brea’s paramedic program is funded through the paramedic tax, there is no charge for services.

What are the rates for Ambulance Transport for Brea?

The Basic Life Support (BLS) Transport Fee is based upon the Orange County Emergency Medical Services (OCEMS) Maximum Emergency Ground Ambulance Rates. Advanced Life Support (ALS) transport also includes a City ALS fee which is based upon the time paramedic staff are on the ambulance for transport.

Who do we contact for billing questions?

Information regarding an ambulance bill may be obtained from Wittman Enterprises at www.webillems.com or (800) 906-6552. From the website, a patient or authorized representative can obtain the balance on the account, update the patient's insurance information, or make a payment.

Representatives from Wittman Enterprises are available Monday-Friday, 8:00am - 4:30pm PST. To protect patient privacy, representatives must speak directly with the patient or the minor patient's parent or legal guardian. Unless authorized by a patient to receive medical information and records, third-party callers may only update a patient's insurance information.

If you are a legal representative requesting ambulance billing records for your client, you may email your request to records@webillems.com