The Fire Department is a basic life support first responder.  We respond to medical situations that require emergency response by our local ambulance and us. The Fire Department personnel are trained to EMT standards, in addition three employees certified and qualified as Paramedics.  The Fire Department has a contract with the Mountain Valley Regional Emergency Medical Services Agency to provide a paramedic with the Police Department’s SWAT team and all fire service technical rescue teams.  The Department paramedics however, cannot utilize their training for day-to-day EMS incidents due to the MVRMSA local interpretation of state law.  The Department provides all the necessary equipment and medications\drugs required for advanced life support services to the SWAT team and Technical Rescue teams.  The Fire Department is a critical component of the emergency medical response to our community.  Oak Valley Hospital is a special district that operates the ambulance for the communities of Oakdale (Valley Home and Knights Ferry also), Waterford and Riverbank.  It is not unusual for us now to have multiple medical aid calls at the same time or within a five-minute window.