(Photo courtesy Tim Eiden - Peoria Fire Department)

A fire truck with Peoria Fire and Medical Department.

After two years of planning, the city of Peoria can move forward with getting its own ambulances. 

The Arizona Department of Health signed off on Peoria’s application for a Certificate of Necessity (CON), a final step before the city could buy and operate its own ambulances.

Peoria currently uses only ambulances from private medical transport company American Medical Response (AMR) and will supplement that service with the future emergency vehicles.

Peoria Fire and Medical Department spokesman Tim Eiden said the city hopes the public-private partnership will shorten response times.

"We have a great working relationship with AMR and we want to make sure when someone calls 911 in the city of Peoria that they get the best possible service and the best possible response time,” Eieden said.

He said the CON approval is good news for everyone in the city.

“This is something that’s supported by the entire city of Peoria," Eiden said. "From the mayor, to the city manager, to the fire chief. This is something that we’re all working together to ensure that core services is the best for everybody in Peoria.”

Eiden said the city is hoping to buy and outfit two ambulances by the end of the year, at a cost of about $1 million per ambulance.