Tuesday, the Eau Claire City Council officially took up up an ordinance that would make Eau Claire smoke free.

The ordinance to ban smoking in all public places was introduced to the council, but, council members will not take action on it until the next meeting in two weeks.

A public hearing is scheduled for Monday, March 24. The council could vote on the ordinance the following night, March 25.

If approved the ban would start July 1.

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The Council says 'yes' to providing emergency ambulance service to the town of Seymour.

Seymour is the latest town to sign an agreement with the city. Altoona and the towns of Brunswick, Pleasant Valley, Union and Washington have also agreed.

The fire department took over emergency calls on March 1.

EMS Battalion Chief Rick Merryfield tells us, he's very happy with how the agreement is working out.

Battalion Chief Merryfield also says first responders are playing a huge role in the ambulance runs. Now, he wants to make sure they can do even more to help.

Merryfield says, coming up next month, the first responders will be trained to use equipment to help people with heart failure, diabetes, asthma and emphysema.

He says Altoona Rescue and Emergicare will buy the equipment and the Eau Claire Fire Department will chip in some of the smaller tools.

Merryfield says this will allow the first responders to help more patients as soon as they get to the scene.