Rescue 72

Did you know? Roughly 65 percent of Gresham Fire Department’s calls are actually medical emergencies, requiring a paramedic on scene as quickly as possible.   

Enter the Rescue vehicle.

First Gresham had one. Now, thanks to levy support, Gresham Fire will staff two Rescue units, serving the busiest areas of the city. This means quicker response to acute situations like heart attacks, strokes and falls, in a community where more than 20 percent of residents are 60 or older.  

One key benefit of a Rescue vehicle is that it takes the call burden off a traditional fire engine crew. It’s smaller (two-person crew). It’s nimbler. (Though it can and does show up on big fire or traffic-accident scenes when needed.)  

In early 2025, even before being fully staffed, for example, the Rescue took about 26 percent of lower-priority, citizen-initiated calls off Engine 72’s overall call burden.   

“This Rescue is the first new 911 response vehicle we’ve added in over 30 years, and it comes at a critical time,” Assistant Chief Jeffrey Hairston said. “Our call volume has increased just over nine percent over the past five years, and this unit will help us respond faster and more efficiently to emergencies across the communities we serve.” Compared with 20 years ago, departmental calls are up 51 percent. 

While the new vehicle itself was paid for with federal American Rescue Plan Act funds, levy staffing will keep it rolling 24-hours a day, seven days a week, starting July 2025.