| On Wednesday, September 7th, 2011 several members of our Ambulance Specifications Committee traveled to Reamstown, Lancaster County to visit the members of Reamstown Ambulance 1-7 to review their 2011 Ford Braun Ambulance.
The Westwood Fire Company Ambulance Division is currently in the process of conducting a benefit study for the addition of a third Ambulance to be purchased by our organization due to the additional territory now protected by our substation at the Wagontown Fire Company. Westwood EMS is now the primary EMS provider for Valley Township, West Caln Township, West Brandywine Township, along with portions of East Fallowfield Township, Wallace Township, and East Brandywine Township.
Currently, the Ford Motor Company, the primary provider of ambulance chassis throughout the United States is not manufacturing diesel vehicles in their E-Series chassis, which is the type of vehicle we currently own. Ford does now offer V-10 gasoline engines with ambulance preparation packages in the 2012 model year.
Our committee has been determining the reasonableness of purchasing a used ambulance to be utilized as a third vehicle in the fleet, purchasing a diesel vehicle with a different model chassis, or purchasing a gasoline chassis on the familiar E-Series chassis we are accustomed to.
Reamstown Ambulance recently placed into service a 2011 Ford E-Series gasoline chassis ambulance and our members were interested in the pros and cons of this type of vehicle.
Reamstown personnel were gracious enough to allow our members to drive and operate their vehicle and answer any questions regarding their impressions of the gasoline motor.
Due to the torrential flooding throughout the day, Reamstown Ambulance was dispatched to a water rescue emergency in Clay Township during our visit.
We would like to express our thanks to the members of the Reamstown Fire Company Ambulance for their hospitality in allowing us the opportunity of operating the ambulance to assist us in determining our next step in the purchase of a new ambulance to serve the community. |
