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NORTHAMPTON - The Fire Department's partnership with a private ambulance company has been so successful that it has meant that firefighters did not have to be laid off, Mayor Mary Clare Higgins told the City Council.

Deputy Fire Chief Christopher W. Norris told the council Thursday night that the partnership with the Auburn-based Am-B-Care Ambulance Service was formed with the goal of improved service to the community and it has worked.

The Fire Department started in 2003 providing back-up ambulance service in the city. On July 1, 2007, it began providing first-responder service for emergency calls from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.,Monday through Friday, with Am-B-Care providing first-responder service during the remainder of the week.

Both Norris and Robert V. Chapdelaine, Am-B-Care's chief operating officer, told the council it has been a total success. The Fire Department responds to approximately one-third of all calls.

"We are happy to be in town. The partnership is going well, both in the field and in the administration," Chapdelaine said.

The city signed a three-year contract with Am-B-Care after complaints about the previous ambulance service provider, American Medical Response. City officials said Am-B-Care was more enthusiastic about allowing the city to be first responder part of the time.

"Am-B-Care has done a wonderful job. The partnership has been a huge success and exceeded all expectations," Norris said.

Also as part of the agreement, when there is a structure fire, allof its personnel become dedicated to fire suppression and Am-B-Caresteps in to provide ambulance service, Norris said.

Because it is providing ambulance service, 11 firefighters, one morethan previously, are working during the day shift, and that has twice allowed an increased number of firefighters at fire scenes, Norris said.

Higgins said the ambulance service is financially totallyself-sufficient, with payments from insurance companies going into areserve fund.

City Council President James M. Dostal and Councilor Maureen T.Carney, who were members of the Public Safety Committee that worked onthe issue, praised the partnership. Dostal noted the city has three ambulances and Am-B-Care also has three in the city.

"We are very well prepared for any emergency within the city. Theservice has run just as smooth as anything can run," Dostal said.

Carney said that the city of Lawrence has had to lay off 25 firefighters, while none have been laid off here.

"We've been able to hold onto these positions because of this.Without it, we would not have held onto those positions," Higgins said.

Massachusetts Fire/Ambulance Partnership Praised