Paramedics now responding to fire and accident scenes ahead of fire trucks
Paramedics in Finland are increasingly being dispatched to fire and accident scenes before fire crews arrive, a practice that has already saved lives in some regions, Yle reports.
The model, first introduced in the Kainuu region, will expand to Lapland this autumn with the goal of speeding up emergency response in sparsely populated northern areas. Trained paramedics—equipped with fire extinguishers, rescue tools, and other gear—can now act as a “first-strike unit” when fire or rescue services face long travel times.
“We didn’t call an ambulance—we’re waiting for the fire truck”
Initially, the sight of an ambulance arriving at a fire scene caused confusion among residents. “When we arrived, people said, ‘We didn’t order an ambulance—we’re waiting for the fire department,’” recalled Niina Pälsynaho, a paramedic in Kainuu. But the system has since proven its worth, including in a water rescue where paramedics pulled a person from the water minutes before fire crews arrived.
Life-saving results in rural emergencies
Jukka Angerman, head of emergency services for Lapland’s wellbeing services county, cited cases where paramedics had contained a spreading caravan fire and prevented major structural damage. “This avoided significant additional harm,” he said. The model also allows paramedics to assess whether fire crews are needed at all, freeing up resources.
The paramedics—who receive a small monthly bonus for the expanded role—stress they do not replace firefighters but provide critical early support. “Our primary job is emergency care, but if we’re not tied up, we assist in rescue operations,” Pälsynaho said. Training includes basic fire and rescue courses, with equipment like hydraulic cutters and throwable extinguishers now standard in some ambulances.
The initiative aims to stretch limited resources in northern Finland, where long distances delay response times. “We’re bringing that crucial first-strike capability to remote areas,” Angerman said.