FireMed is an emergency medical service that provides area residents an alternative to paying ambulance and user fees.

Last year almost 3,000 people in Yamhill County required ambulance services and average charges were $800. Members of the FireMed program paid substantially lower, one-time annual fees.

One low, annual fee includes:

• Medically necessary ambulance service.
• Non-emergency medically necessary ambulance service pre-authorized by physician.
• Pre-authorized ambulance transportation between medical facilities, originating in McMinnville Ambulance district.
• Blood pressure checks at the McMinnville Fire Department.

Within the city limits, the annual fee is $50; outside the city limits the fee is $70. Open enrollment for FireMed is September through October. For questions or additional information, call 503-435-5800, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Friday.