As calls increase, Lexington is bringing a new generation of trained paramedics into its fire department

“It’s a significant number of calls per year,” said Fire Chief Jason Wells. “Every ambulance in Lexington is very busy, so we have to be mindful of that.”

Wells says his department responded to more than 68,000 emergency calls last year alone, nearly three-quarters of which were medically related.

Lexington already boasts an unusually high number of firefighters who are certified paramedics — a step above the required level of training known as EMT-basic. But a new federal grant totaling nearly $930,000 — the second of its kind the city has received — will allow the department to put more trained personnel in more vehicles.

“We now have over 30 students in this class and that allows us to make sure that we keep pace with the size of our community, which is growing,” Wells explains.

Lt. Chris Crowe, EMS instructor at the Lexington Fire Training Academy, says the grant will allow the department to better equip these students to provide high-quality care using advanced technology.

The fire department started the nine-month training program for firefighters on September 10. They will graduate on May 30, 2025.