New EMS Ambulance Station and Training Facility Opened in West Roxbury

Mayor Michelle Wu today joined Boston EMS, the Boston Public Health Commission (BPHC), Public Facilities Department, and the Property Management Department for a Cadet completion ceremony and ribbon-cutting to officially open the newly renovated Boston EMS Training Center, which includes the addition of a two-bay ambulance station at 201 Rivermoor Street in West Roxbury. This new, state-of-the-art educational complex will allow Boston EMS to continue to recruit and develop highly-trained EMTs and Paramedics. The new station will also enhance emergency medical coverage for residents and improve response times to life-threatening medical emergencies. 

“I am grateful to be here today to highlight the critical role that Boston EMS serves in our city,” said Mayor Michelle Wu. “Our EMTs and paramedics provide the highest quality care to people in their time of need, and I’m proud that we can better deliver that to our communities in these neighborhoods.” 

Boston EMS is one of the busiest municipal EMS providers in New England, responding to more than 138,000 emergency medical incidents annually. In 2023, Boston EMS responded to 3,639 incidents in West Roxbury.  

“Boston EMS are the front lines of medical emergencies,” said Dr. Bisola Ojikutu, Commissioner of Public Health and Executive Director of the Boston Public Health Commission. “This new EMS station in West Roxbury will help ambulances reach people faster, and our new training facility will attract top talent and further develop the skills and capabilities of our EMTs and paramedics.” 

As part of today’s event, 12 Cadets were recognized for completing the Boston EMS Cadet program, the first cohort in two decades. The Cadet program is one of the many ways Boston EMS is actively recruiting to address a shortage of EMTs. Over the last nine months, Boston EMS has successfully hired more than 90 members to join its team of now 428 uniformed personnel. The Cadet program is a five-month paid training, and cadets go on to six months of paid EMT-Recruit Academy training before they are officially badged as EMTs. These 12 Cadets will be part of the first Academy class at the new training facility. 

“Today marks a major milestone for our Boston EMS family as we celebrate the Cadets and the opening of the Boston EMS Training Center and station,” said Boston EMS Chief James Hooley. “We are grateful to Mayor Wu and our city partners for their support and investment in this much-needed training facility and ambulance station in West Roxbury.”  

"We are thrilled to open this state-of-the-art training and education facility,” said Kerrie Griffin, Director of Public Facilities. “The dedicated professionals of EMS deserve a space that meets their current and future operational needs. We are grateful for all of our partners whose collaboration and efforts will allow us to best serve City of Boston residents."

The new Boston EMS Training Center includes field simulation and advanced skills labs, a training bay, large multimedia classrooms, a gymnasium, and administrative space. The previous training facility was at Boston EMS headquarters in the Miranda Creamer Building in South Boston. 

“We would like to welcome EMS and its Training Center to this already dynamic facility that houses the City's Archives, Boston Public Library, and Archeology Center,” remarked Eamon Shelton, Commissioner of Property Management. “Their addition gives the community of West Roxbury and the City at large expanded access to essential services and will not only provide employment and training opportunities but can serve as an incredible resource. EMS workers are perfectly situated to connect medical care with social and community services, and we look forward to supporting them as they carry out their important work.”

“I am thrilled that West Roxbury will be the location where our city’s aspiring EMTs and paramedics will be trained,” said District 6 City Councilor Benjamin Weber. “I welcome all cadets who will be going through this facility, which will provide them with the tools necessary to work in a well-paying and rewarding career that will assist our residents who are the most in need.” 

Boston EMS is actively recruiting to expand the department, add frontline ambulances, and better meet the rising demand for service. In partnership with the City of Boston Worker Empowerment Cabinet, Boston EMS offers hundreds of scholarships for EMT courses for people interested in a career with the department. In addition to the Cadet program, there is also an EMT training that takes place on evenings and weekends twice a year. Everyone who completes either tract will then go through the EMT-Recruit Academy training before becoming a Boston EMS EMT. The next Recruit Academy graduation is on April 12.  

 Starting pay for newly hired EMTs is $33 an hour. Those interested in a rewarding career at Boston EMS can visit boston.gov/ems to learn more and sign up for training and employment notices. Boston EMS expects to be hiring EMTs and Cadets again this summer