‘See us not as a fire department add-on': FDNY EMS lieutenant calls for a stand

NEW YORK — A debate over whether New York City’s Emergency Medical Service should separate from the FDNY has reignited after a veteran FDNY EMS lieutenant and union leader is calling on the city to break its emergency medical service away from the fire department and create a stand-alone “third 911 service.”

In an article for The Chief Leader , FDNY EMS Lt. Anthony Almojera, vice president of Local 3621 and author of “ Riding the Lightning: A Year in the Life of a NYC Paramedic ,” argued that paramedics and EMTs “may show up to the same scene, risk the same dangers and respond to the same calls,” yet earn roughly half a firefighter’s salary and receive fewer benefits. The pay gap, he said, “leads to massive attrition” and tells young providers “they are second-class responders.”