There will be crews dedicated to the ambulance for the shift. Our FF's are crosstrained as either EMT's or medics. All engines are ALS with at least one medic as part of the crew. Different houses have different ways of working it out, but typically the two medics will alternate riding the engine or the box every other day/tour.
An engine will typically be dispatched for ALS back with the medic unit. If the closest engine is on a job, then the next closest will be sent. If there is a void in coverage, units can be relocated to other houses. We also have mutual aid agreements with all of the surrounding jurisdictions to ensure adequate coverage.
Hardly putting all of our eggs in one basket. In fact, given the low volume of suppression call types nowadays, it makes sense to crosstrain personnel and rotate them between EMS and suppression apparatus. Cutting FF positions will cost property/lives. Provided they're properly trained, using personnel in an EMS capacity is more efficient then having two seperate entities.
New medic hires at Fairfax will go through a 16 week ALS internship involving 3 12's on an ambulance, and 4 hours/wk of lecture/scenarios prior to the start of the suppression academy. Medics out of the academy also need 18 months on the street before being allowed to ride lead on a medic unit.
