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Calif. FD begins charging nearly $500 for lift assists

The Redding Fire Department is retroactively charging residents for non-emergency lift assist calls, with plans to expand the fee to all EMS responses

REDDING, Calif. — The Redding Fire Department has begun retroactive billing of residents $489 for non-emergency 911 lift assist calls, the fire department reminded the public on Aug. 4.

Bills have been issued for applicable calls retroactive to Jan. 1, 2025

The city council approved the fee in 2023 and is currently applying it to lift assist calls, but will eventually extend it to all EMS calls handled by the fire department, KRCR reported.

| Listen: Rethinking lift assist calls with Maia Dorsett

Lift assists are calls for help when someone has fallen and can’t get up, but isn’t facing a life-threatening emergency. The Redding Fire Department says it responds to about 1,200 of these calls each year — more than three per day on average.

Though low in acuity, these incidents are still important to the people involved. However, due to insurance restrictions and staffing models, local ambulance services typically do not respond to them, leaving the responsibility to fire crews.

| Read next: A $500 fee and a 60% drop: How one department tackled its lift assist crisis

Officials say the new fees for lift assists will help recoup costs, with the revenue reinvested into the department’s budget.

Fee waiver requests are welcome, and the fire chief may waive or reduce the fee in special cases. Community members can submit a written request for review.

“We’re not here to penalize anyone,” Fire Chief Jerrod Vanlandingham said. “We’re here to protect lives, and we need the community’s help to make sure we can keep doing that as effectively as possible.”

Is a lift assist fee a fair way to manage call volume and funding — or could it deter people from seeking help when they need it?

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Bill Carey is the associate editor for FireRescue1.com and EMS1.com. A former Maryland volunteer firefighter, sergeant, and lieutenant, Bill has written for several fire service publications and platforms. His work on firefighter behavioral health garnered a 2014 Neal Award nomination. His ongoing research and writings about line-of-duty death data is frequently cited in articles, presentations, and trainings. Have a news tip? He can be reached at news@lexipol.com.