Calexico firefighters supports Measure O

CALEXICO, Calif. (KYMA) - Calexico firefighters said they need more resources to help them respond to emergencies. That's why they want people to vote in favor of Measure O.

A study was presented to the city council Wednesday night. The study showed that paramedics, who are also firefighters, often have to leave the city to take patients to hospitals elsewhere in the county because Calexico does not have a local hospital.

The Calexico Fire Department (CFD) said another issue is they only have three ambulances. That's why the city is looking for additional funding through Measure O

The measure would create a sales tax starting at "half-a-cent" and increasing to "one cent" by 2030.

"It's finally coming to council for presentation to see how we can get to where we need to be on our transportation and EMS services," said Chief Juan Contreras with CFD. "Knowing that we're short staffed, we heavily rely on overtime every day, two to three people a day just to run a second ambulance. That's in the in the study, I believe that's going to help us out."

Half of the revenue from Measure O would go to the fire department, while the other half would go to the police department.