East Idaho News
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Hometown Helpers: Fire department administrative assistant takes care of the community
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April 3, 2022
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2:21Now Playing#EastIdahoNews
IDAHO FALLS — Every week, EastIdahoNews.com is introducing you to Hometown Helpers in our community. We want to spotlight firefighters, police officers, city workers, snowplow drivers and others who quietly keep our cities and counties running.
This week, we are featuring Maria Escobar, an administrative assistant for the city of Idaho Falls Fire Department.
She was nominated as a Hometown Helper by someone who emailed EastIdahoNews.com.
The email read, “You know when you come across a person that makes an impression upon you that reminds you that there are good in people that sincerely care about others, Maria Escobar of the Idaho Falls Ambulance Service is one of those people. Her personal dedication in serving the needs of Idaho Falls is seen through her acts of kindness and willingness in helping others. She is a true example of a Hometown Helper whose service should be recognized.”
Escobar has been working for the fire department for almost nine years.
You have probably seen Escobar at the Idaho Falls Fire Station 1 Headquarters off of E Street at the front desk, smiling and ready to help in any way she can.
“All the chief’s I work with are awesome. I have a great team. Co-workers, fire, I love it,” she said.
Escobar said she has always been interested in the medical field and helping people in some way.
“There are nurses, doctors— they love to help. I am not really in the EMS or the ambulance helping them or treating them but at least I can help them with their bill or anything else that they need assistance with because they are already going through emotional distress,” she said. “I just try to kind of help them.”
Part of Escobar’s job is assisting people that call and ask questions. She also helps with ambulance billing.
“I collect all of their information and read all of the EMS reports that come through from our medics and just make sure that everything is correct,” she said.
Sometimes, the EMS reports can be challenging to read.
“I do come across some reports with a child or anything with death or any kind of medical that kind of hits home and you just feel for that family. You never know exactly what they are going through when the incident happened so when that family member calls us, I always ask, ‘Are you okay or how is he or she doing?’ I like to be personable that way,” Escobar explained.
She said sometimes people are afraid to call and ask for help on their bills but she encourages them so she can answer questions.
Escobar’s motto is to always be kind. She listens and does what she can for others.
“I feel great. I’m happy. Use your kindness. Just be kind. We are all human, we all have feelings,” she said. “If you are in desire and in need of an ambulance, call us. We have a great team, a great Idaho Falls Fire Department. I am very proud to be working here. I am blessed to be here, grateful to be here,” she said.
Escobar shows every day that she’s a Hometown Helper by showing she cares for the community.
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