Hawaii EMS personnel are being encouraged to do daily inspections of all ambulances.
The move comes days after an ambulance exploded, leaving a patient dead and a paramedic seriously injured.
The United Public Workers union, representing more than 300 emergency personnel, is calling for EMS to do daily vehicle checks even if they don't see defects, KITV reported.
"I think people in our department are all saying, 'that could have been me. No one's more eager than me to find out what the cause of this was and I think it will reassure our workforce, our paramedics, the public to have some answers," '" said Dr. Jim Ireland, director of the Honolulu Emergency Services Department.
Once preliminary information reveals the cause of the fire, Ireland said EMS will make changes to improve safety.
"We know fires happen in medical settings. In operating rooms across the country there's anywhere from maybe 90 to 100 fires a year where they use flammable anesthetics or oxygen. In ambulances in other instances we've known oxygen has been involved in other ambulance fires on the mainland," he added.
Paramedic Jeff Wilkinson, 36, remains in critical condition. The married father of two has been with Honolulu EMS for 10 years. A fund to help with medical expenses has already exceeded $100,000.
The Hawaii Fire Fighters Association requested that their members stay out of ambulances until the cause is determined and measures are taken.
However, a Honolulu Fire Department spokeswoman told reporters that firefighters will continue to help with patient care in ambulances.
