For the first time in its history, the Petersburg Fire Department (PFD) swore in 12 new EMS-only providers.

WTVR reports that the addition of four EMS captains, four advanced life support providers and four basic life support providers will allow the department to have a manned ambulance running 24 hours a day, along with a part-time unit.

As the city has seen an uptick in emergency medical calls, there has been a change in firefighters or part-time medics running ambulances, since the increase has strained the system.

"The city currently experiences somewhere around 11,000 EMS calls annually and we'll turn somewhere close to 7,000 fire calls," Chief Wayne Hoover said.

Hoover saw the need to hire EMS-only positions and Capt. Andrew Swann of the Petersburg EMS Division said the job demands a specific kind of person behind the wheel. On their first day, the new hires ran a cone course to prepare for driving ambulances.

"It takes a calm, cool, collected person to be able to drive one of these to a scene," Swann said.

The expansion allows for more dedicated emergency care and for the first time ever, PFD will have paramedic-trained, 24-hour shift supervisors in the street.

"I think it's great. I think it's going to really help out local businesses too, if anything is an issue, we know when we make that call, we're going to have someone dedicated to those services come out and help us," a worker in Petersburg, Sara Campbell, said.

Furthermore, a third PFD ambulance could be added next year. A new fire station is also expected to open in about three years, where they could house an additional ambulance.