A Dallas paramedic was shot on Monday morning US time, drawing a swarming police presence to a suburb on the city's eastern side.

Authorities said the EMT paramedic with the Dallas Fire-Rescue Department was shot about 11:30 am while responding to a call.

In a statement, city officials said the paramedic was taken to Baylor Hospital, where he was undergoing surgery not long after the shooting.

City officials said the shooting occurred on a residential block just down the street from a Dallas Fire-Rescue training centre, a sprawling facility with classrooms, offices, simulators and a driving course.