The Santa Monica Fire Department is expanding its innovative Advanced Provider Unit (APU) program, adding a second team to help respond to complex medical and behavioral health calls citywide, officials announced earlier this week.
The move by the City Council builds on early success from the first APU, which began responding to 911 calls in November 2025 as part of the city’s two-year strategic Realignment Plan — an initiative designed to strengthen public safety services and increase operational efficiency.
Unlike traditional emergency response units, the APU is staffed with a firefighter-paramedic and a nurse practitioner who can perform advanced clinical assessments, provide treatment on scene when appropriate, connect patients with follow-up care, and reduce the need for unnecessary hospital transports, officials said.
Mayor Caroline Torosis described the program as “what modern public safety looks like,” noting that it keeps full-scale ambulances available for life-critical calls while addressing frequent 911 users and non-emergency medical needs more effectively. City data from the program’s first three months showed dozens of patients received advanced care in the field, with many treated on scene without requiring transport to emergency departments.
The expanded APU will boost coverage during peak demand times and operate seven days a week, officials said, with staffing and full deployment expected by March.
The unit is part of a broader effort by the Fire Department to modernize emergency medical services in Santa Monica, supplementing the city’s Ambulance Transportation Program, which integrates Fire Department personnel with ambulance operations to ensure rapid, high-quality care for residents.
For more on the Advanced Provider Unit, visit santamonica.gov/advanced-provider-unit.
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