CLEVELAND, Ohio — For the first time in decades, Cleveland EMS will soon have as many paramedics and EMTs as the division says it needs.

The staffing boon is aided by a new class of cadets at the Cleveland EMS academy, who began classes on Monday. The class of 27 is the city’s largest since 2013.

“For the first time in decades, EMS will be fully staffed in the field with paramedics to administer life-saving interventions to the citizens and visitors here in the city of Cleveland,” Cleveland EMS Commissioner Orlando Wheeler said during a Tuesday press conference.

Having a full field staff means officials can put more ambulances on the street, spread the workload more evenly among employees and, in certain situations, reduce response times, said EMS Commander Ellen Kazimer, the agency’s s

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