B.C. paramedics are warning the public that ambulance services in the Fraser Valley and Metro Vancouver are critically understaffed, with zero staffed ambulances running in Maple Ridge today (Aug. 20).

According to Troy Clifford, president of the Ambulance Paramedics of BC union, the number of unstaffed ambulances throughout the Fraser Valley area is cause for alarm.

鈥淭he province is short 1,000 paramedics, with roughly half of them needed in urban centres,鈥� said Clifford.

Aug 20 sounding the alarm that many are unstaffed in Fraser Valley and Metro Van, ZERO staffed in Maple Ridge. 鈥淟ast night we had many Advanced Life Support units sitting empty. Be aware that there could be delays.

鈥� A. Paramedics Of BC (@APBC873)

He also warns that this isn鈥檛 a problem that is going to go away in a week or even a month.

鈥淥n Friday night we had many Advanced Life Support ambulances sitting empty all night, and today we continue to see deplorable non-staffed Ambulances in the Fraser Valley as well,鈥� said Clifford.

鈥淭his weekend continues a trend across the province that seems to have no end.鈥�

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As a result of these ambulance staff shortages, Clifford and the Ambulance Paramedics of BC are warning that response times might suffer this weekend.

鈥淲e are urging the public to be aware that there could be significant delays in service, and use 911 when someone鈥檚 health or safety is at risk, use 811 when unsure,鈥� said Clifford.

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