By Jordan TravisThe Record-EagleTRAVERSE CITY, Mich. — New hires are fueling Traverse City Fire Department’s drive to become the city’s primary ambulance transport agency, but not as quickly as department leaders had hoped. They must go through firefighter probation, then an extensive orientation process to learn department protocols, medical control authority rules and so on. Dunklow told commissioners about progress at TCFD since July 2024, when the department began the transition to become primary transport agency. In February, the department hired Dunklow and added a new ambulance to its fleet, she said. That ambulance service will still be there if TCFD isn’t ready to take over as primary transport agency by July, she added later.