REDDING, Calif. — The Redding Fire Department has begun retroactive billing of residents $489 for non-emergency 911 lift assist calls, the fire department reminded the public on Aug. 4.

Bills have been issued for applicable calls retroactive to Jan. 1, 2025

The city council approved the fee in 2023 and is currently applying it to lift assist calls, but will eventually extend it to all EMS calls handled by the fire department, KRCR reported.

| Listen: Rethinking lift assist calls with Maia Dorsett

Lift assists are calls for help when someone has fallen and can’t get up, but isn’t facing a life-threatening emergency. The Redding Fire Department says it responds to about 1,200 of these calls each year — more than three per day on average.

Though low in acuity, these incidents are

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