Air Methods Partners with El Paso Fire Department to Open New Air Medical Base

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Fire STAR to provide emergency air medical services for El Paso County and beyond

EL PASO, TEXAS, AUG. 5, 2024 – Air Methods, the leading air medical service provider, has partnered with the El Paso Fire Department (EPFD) to establish Fire STAR, a new air medical base set to open in September and provide emergency medical services for the El Paso community.

The El Paso City Council’s approval of the five-year contract with Air Methods last Tuesday marks a significant and long-term commitment to improving emergency response times and patient outcomes in the area.

“This partnership with Air Methods aligns with our mission to protect and serve the residents of El Paso,” said Chief Jonathan Killings of the El Paso Fire Department. “Adding Fire STAR will greatly improve our emergency medical response capabilities and ensure that critical care is available when every second counts.” 

Situated along the Mexican border, at the intersection of Texas and New Mexico, El Paso serves as the epicenter for a population of 2.5 million people. EPFD, internationally accredited through the Commission on Fire Accreditation International (CFAI), is a full-service department that responds to nearly 80,000 calls per year involving fires, medical emergencies, hazardous materials, and other emergency events in the City of El Paso. 

The new Fire STAR base will be strategically located at Fire Station #35, 12230 Pine Springs, ensuring enhanced accessibility and the region’s capacity to provide rapid, life-saving medical transport and critical care services. Equipped with an EC-130 rotor wing, the base will be operated by Air Methods and staffed with a highly skilled team, including a pilot, flight nurse, and paramedic.

“We are thrilled to partner with the El Paso Fire Department to bring Fire STAR to the community,” said Air Methods Senior Account Executive Lia Castagna-Munoz. “This base will significantly enhance EPFD’s ability to provide rapid, high-quality medical care to those in need.”

Fire STAR will provide emergency air medical services 24/7 and critical interfacility transports across the City of El Paso, the County, southern New Mexico, and beyond, ensuring comprehensive emergency service. The highly trained flight nurses and paramedics will be equipped to transport pediatric, high-risk obstetrics, cardiac, and other patients with a wide variety of critical care needs.