SANTA MONICA, Calif. — Tuesday morning, May 12, 2026 — Santa Monica Fire Department personnel conducted ambulance driver training exercises in a public beach parking lot Tuesday morning, using cone courses and maneuvering drills to evaluate new employees preparing for ambulance duty.
The training focused on precision driving, backing, and vehicle handling skills required for emergency medical transport operations. Fire personnel were observed guiding ambulance operators through controlled cone patterns designed to simulate real-world maneuvering challenges while maintaining safety and operational readiness.
According to a Santa Monica Fire captain, this type of driver/operator training begins with new hires during their academy and continues throughout their careers as part of ongoing professional development.
“This specific training ensures that we have eyes on each new employee and that they have passed the driver portion of their academy so that when they work on the ambulance they are well versed,” the captain explained.
The exercise is part of the department’s broader Ambulance Operator (AO) Program, which officially transitioned in-house on February 1, 2026, ending the city’s previous reliance on third-party providers for emergency medical transport.
Under the AO Program, city-employed Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs), known as Ambulance Operators, operate city-owned ambulances and provide Basic Life Support (BLS) services alongside firefighter-paramedics. Their responsibilities include responding to medical emergencies, assisting with patient assessment and treatment support, and safely transporting patients from the scene to local medical facilities.
The program is designed both to strengthen emergency response capabilities and to serve as a training ground for future firefighters and paramedics, allowing firefighter-paramedics to focus on higher-level advanced care while Ambulance Operators manage transport and support functions. The program operates under the supervision of a Fire Captain.
The Santa Monica Fire Department states that the Ambulance Transportation Program is intended to improve continuity of care, reduce response times, and ensure professional patient transport from the moment crews arrive on scene through hospital transfer.
Emergency Medical Services operations are also supported by McCormick Ambulance, a contracted private ambulance provider that continues to assist with Basic Life Support transport services. This dual-response model helps maintain emergency readiness while keeping fire department resources available for additional urgent calls.
Tuesday’s training reflected that continued emphasis on preparedness, ensuring that new personnel are fully qualified before entering the field and responding to emergencies across Santa Monica.
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