D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser wants to use private ambulance companies to help with emergency response times.

The hope is private ambulances will free up the limited number of paramedics and ambulances for the most serious calls.

“We’re hoping by the use of a third-party provider that it will allow us to concentrate more time on our training of our firefighters, especially in their EMS training, as well as allow us to get to preventative maintenance of our vehicles that's been an ongoing problem,” Dean said.

The private ambulances would transport only low priority patients, D.C. Fire and EMS Chief Gregory Dean said.

“It could be a cut hand or cut arm, things of that nature, a sprained wrist, we would call for a third party provider to take you to the hospital versus taking you on the fire department apparatus,” Dean said.

District officials point to a surge in 911 calls, many for low priority and non-emergency incidents, as one reason there have been so many delayed responses.

Chief Dean wants to test this system for a year to see if it will work.

“It does make sense,” said Ed Smith of the firefighters union. “Every day we’re maxed out. The rigs are falling apart. We need more time to train.”

This will not impact patient care, Dean said.

“The ambulance companies, all their employees have to be emergency medical technicians that still have to be licensed under the Department of Health,” Dean said.

Bowser plans to ask the D.C. Council to approve a pilot program to test the use of private ambulances. She will brief council members Tuesday morning at their monthly breakfast meeting.