$1M grant helps Calif. FD launch ALS care with first paramedic engine company

By Wes Bowers
Lodi News-Sentinel

LODI, Calif. — When Lodi Fire Chief Ken Johnson first came to the department four years ago, one of his goals was to implement an advanced life support program to improve patient outcomes.

So, he immediately formed a committee to explore the feasibility of bringing ALS to his department.

On Monday, that goal came to fruition as the department officially unveiled its new ALS team and truck outside Fire Station 1.

“I can’t tell you how long we have been waiting for this day,” Johnson said. “This is a major milestone for Lodi Fire Department, years in the making. These services are critical and necessary, forming the backbone of urgent medical response for our community.”

| WEBINAR: Grants Day 2025 — Your funding playbook

For five decades, Lodi fire crews have treated patients using basic life support, which included performing patient assessments, CPR, extrication, shock management, bleeding control and oxygen administration, among other duties.

Now with an ALS classification, crews can deliver medication, provide intravenous therapies, perform triage duties and manage large-scale medical incidents, among other actions.


The transition to ALS will bring Lodi up to industry standards and allow the department to provide advanced airway adjuncts, administer life-saving medications, and perform advanced procedures for both trauma patients and those with medical emergencies, Johnson said.

“Now, (our) dedicated responders can provide a higher level of care in critical moments, whether it’s pulling a victim from the Mokelumne River, assisting at multiple-casualty accidents, or reaching someone who’s been trapped by fire in their home and bringing them safely to their front lawn,” Johnson said. “They will immediately receive a higher level of care in the hopes of improving patient outcomes.

The ALS program has been several years in the making, the department said, as the city reached an operating agreement with the San Joaquin County Emergency Medical Services Authority in 2023.

The Lodi City Council approved the agreement last summer, and earlier this year, a $1 million federal Assistance to Firefighters Grant that allowed firefighters to attend paramedic school.

Capt. Ryan Wentz is one of seven firefighters now able to provide ALS on scene for the department.

He said the push to bring the service to Lodi began with Chief Michael Pretz in 2003, but plans fell through.

Wentz said he and his fellow team members endured not only 150 hours of EMT training, but an additional 1,200 hours of classes to achieve ALS certification.

“This is not just about adding new equipment to our fleet, but about elevating the level of care we provide to the people of Lodi,” he said. “The fire department is ever-changing and adapting to the needs of the citizens we serve. We’re excited about what this means for the future of emergency response in Lodi, and we’re proud to continue to serve with pride and integrity.”

Joining Wentz on the ALS team is Capt. Chris Graves, engineers Brandon Oler, Dylan Cahue, Joe Collins and Matt Berger, as well as firefighter Jared Sinclair.

When fully implemented, the ALS program will include 15 firefighter/paramedics, a battalion chief/paramedic, and four paramedic engines. The service will cost about $337,000 annually to operate, and comes at no additional cost to Lodi residents, the department said.

Earlier this month, the department announced the acquisition of a new 2025 Pierce Ascendant 107-foot Tiller to its fleet of trucks and engines.

The truck boasts a 500-horsepower engine and measures 60 feet, 9 inches in length and 11 feet, 2 inches in height. Designed for both power and agility, its extended ladder reach and enhanced maneuverability will allow firefighters to access tight city streets as well as tall commercial structures throughout Lodi.

Along with celebrating the new vehicle, Monday, the department thanked the Lodi Fore Foundation for providing two cardiac monitors that will assist the ALS team when treating patients in the field.

“We’re incredibly fortunate to have such a skilled, selfless team protecting our community,” foundation president Chris Meehleis said. “Together we are making a difference, and today is a celebration of what we can accomplish when we work hand-in-hand for a greater good.”

Johnson added that with the ALS team in place, Lodi has partnered with the Stockton and Tracy fire departments to form CenCal, a joint powers authority that will provide assistance to one another and care to patients throughout the county.

The alliance recently submitted a request for proposals to San Joaquin County for ambulance transport, Johnson said.

“Thanks to years of dedication by our fire chief, the entire fire department and regional partners, our community can now celebrate that they are now receiving a much higher level of service citywide,” Mayor Cameron Bregman said in a social media statement released by the department Monday afternoon.

“There is nothing more inspiring that improving life-saving efforts that can be the very reason a loved one survives in a life-or-death moment,” he said.

Looking to navigate the complexities of grants funding? Lexipol is your go-to resource for state-specific, fully developed grants services that can help fund your needs. Find out more about our grants services here.
© 2025 the Lodi News-Sentinel (Lodi, Calif.).
Visit www.lodinews.com .
Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.