People who call Redding Fire Department to help them get up after a fall have begun receiving bills for the service. The department responds to around 1,200 “lift assist” calls annually- an average of more than 3 a day. They’re now being billed for $489, and are being charged retroactively back to the start of the year. The city council voted in the fee two years ago. Eventually the fee will be charged for every medical call. The department welcomes individual requests for fee waivers and will consider them on a case-to-case basis.
-Steve Gibson