Paramedic Frances (Frankie) Borden, left, and Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) Alicia Babson, right, were the Moraga-Orinda Fire District’s first all-female ambulance crew for two days in August.  MOFD switched away from having only dual-purpose firefighter/medical staff and recently hired more paramedics and EMTs to staff the district’s ambulances, leaving more firefighters free to answer calls in fire engines, if necessary, at the same time as medical call outs.  

    According to MOFD Ambulance Supervisor Niels Tangherlini, Bordon has been a paramedic for about three years, and came to MOFD a few months ago.  Babson, a third generation Moragan, came to MOFD about a year ago.  Both, Tangherlini said, are highly interested in connection to the community, and recently taught all the freshmen at Miramonte High School hands-only cardiopulmonary resuscitation, how to use an automated external defibrillator (AED), and basic first aid techniques such as how to stop bleeding and chocking. 

    MOFD is currently onboarding another female paramedic and a male EMT.