New Mobile Ordinance Would Shift Ambulance Control to Mobile Fire Rescue Department
By Dale Hines
Blue RAM Media/Gulf Coast News
April 16, 2026
MOBILE, AL. A new proposal that would change how private ambulances would respond in Mobile and shift all emergency medical call responses to the Mobile Fire-Rescue Department is being considered.
Mobile city leaders said that they are considering a new ordinance that could change how the city responds to medical emergencies.
The proposal, introduced on Tuesday, would place Mobile Fire-Rescue Department in charge of all ambulance calls.
For years, Mobile has used multiple private companies to respond primarily to (BLS) Basic Life Support calls while dispatching Mobile Fire-Rescue ambulances to (ALS) Advanced Life Support priority calls such as gunshot wounds, trauma incidents, or other life-threatening emergencies.
Mobile Fire Chief Barry Glisson says the updated ordinance is focused on creating consistency across providers.
“The new ordinance is going to change where everybody has to have a certificate and a system,” he said. “And that essentially allows us to make sure that the service that’s given to the citizens is the same for both companies.”
He emphasized that the goal is not to push private companies out, but to ensure a high standard of care.
“We’re not trying to drive any company out of the city,” Glisson said. “We’re trying to make sure that these companies that are working for the citizens are providing the highest level of care and are the same.” The chief also stated that current providers are already performing well.
“Medevac and Newman’s have been doing an outstanding job,” he said.
“There’s no cost that changes with this ordinance,” Glisson said. “Everything is still dictated by the state and what’s available from the insurance companies.”
This is not the first time that a proposal for changes in the EMS system has been made including having the Mobile Fire Department respond to all EMS calls in the city.
Kenneth Newman, president of Newman’s Medical Services, says he’s concerned about changes to existing protections for long-standing providers.
“They’re trying to take away that grandfather clause now because they think that it should be an equal playing field,” Newman said. “Versus somebody that’s put 87 years into the City of Mobile taking care of the citizens, and I am opposed to that.”
Newman also raised concerns about new data-sharing requirements included in the ordinance.
“Now they’re wanting us to hand over that data to them,” he said. “I don’t want any personal medical information getting out.”
He added that protecting patient privacy is a top priority.
“I don’t want any personal medical information getting out that we control or maintain and keep safe,” Newman said.
But as with other private ambulance services in other cities, they are subcontractors and employed by the city under a contract. Therefore, it’s the city who controls what an ambulance service can and cannot do and that includes having frequent audits of records, employee certifications and equipment maintenance.
Mobile City Council is expected to vote on the ordinance next week.
If approved, Mobile Fire-Rescue would take over dispatching ambulance services citywide effective immediately.
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