Compassion Meets Capacity: Redding Fire’s First Responder Fee Explained

As emergency call volumes rise and city resources are stretched, the City of Redding is taking proactive steps to ensure its fire and emergency medical services remain fast, effective, and sustainable.

In this episode, Katie and Steve sit down with Redding Fire Chief Jerrod Vanlandingham to talk about the recently implemented first responder fee, a strategic move designed to recoup costs from non-emergency medical calls—starting with lift assists. The goal? Preserve frontline services and keep fire engines available for critical emergencies like fires, rescues, and major medical incidents.

Chief Vanlandingham explains how fire departments have evolved well beyond fire suppression, why cost recovery is essential in today’s climate, and how Redding is phasing in this policy thoughtfully, with compassion and financial hardship waivers in place.

This conversation highlights the real-life impact of overlapping 911 calls, the burden of low-acuity responses, and the city’s broader plan to maintain service levels while being fiscally responsible. It’s a behind-the-scenes look at how public safety is adapting to meet the needs of a growing and aging population.

Learn more about the First Responder Fee >>

Read the transcript >>

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