DALTON, Mass. — The Fire District is considering accelerating its timeline for purchasing a new ambulance because of an unexpected opportunity.
The ambulance committee has been speaking with ambulance purveyors who informed them that the projected cost of an ambulance is about $450,000 to $500,000 with a build time of three years, interim Fire Chief Chris Cachat said during last month's Board of Water Commissioners meeting.
However, in the last couple of weeks, one of these sellers returned to the district to inform it that another agency backed out of a vehicle order last minute, so an ambulance became available early.
The anticipated cost is about $345,000 to be rolled out as an Advanced Life Support unit, Cachat said during Tuesday's Board of Water Commissioners meeting.
The projected cost would include transferring the radios and power load stretcher system from the district's old ambulance to the new one, he said.
"I believe it is the Fire District’s and the Fire Department's best interest to look at possibly purchasing an ambulance right away. This ambulance is going to give us everything that we're looking for [and] it's available now," Cachat said.
This apparatus would be an F450 series, which is a pickup-style, two-wheel drive, so it would have a larger motor and transmission, heavier-duty brakes, and just an all-around heavy-duty vehicle, he said.
Additionally, the price increase that the district would face if it waited three years is no longer a concern, and the trade-in values now are greater than what it will be three years from now, he said.
During the meeting, Cachat was hesitant to disclose the seller of the apparatus because of concerns that another department might learn about it and preemptively acquire it before the district could.
The station has two ambulances — a 2016 International and a 2019 Ford 50. However, only the Ford 50 still operates as an Advanced Life Support vehicle.
It has been demonstrated both vehicles need to be replaced due to their deteriorating condition.
"Both rigs have their own issues [the Ford] which, in my opinion, is in better condition still, is fairly unpredictable and unreliable in terms of starting, which is kind of crucial to us being able to make transfers on time," said Charlotte Crane, fire prevention officer and emergency medical technician..
Cachat said the ambulance committee will examine the apparatus to ensure that it meets the department's specifications and is "exactly what we're looking for."
"So, we're hoping that we can act on this soon before somebody else grabs it from us," he said.
Cachat said he does not yet have an estimate on what the department can get for the trade-in value of both apparatuses but will return when he has an amount.
The district would need to allocate $345,000 minus what it can get for the trade-in of its current vehicles.
Resident Don Davis asked if the district should consider keeping one ambulance, possibly for interdepartmental transfers, but Cachat said the department does not have the staffing for that.
A special district meeting would need to be scheduled to allocate the needed funds, but the board wanted to wait to see what its chair, James Driscoll, thought about the possibility.
Driscoll was out of town at the time of Tuesday's meeting.
Should the new ambulance be sold before the district can set a special meeting, Cachat recommended not canceling but holding the meeting to request the allocation of funds up to a certain amount so that if an opportunity like this presents itself again, the district will be ready.
If you would like to contribute information on this article, contact us at info@iberkshires.com.
Your Comments
iBerkshires.com welcomes critical, respectful dialogue. Name-calling, personal attacks, libel, slander or foul language is not allowed. All comments are reviewed before posting and will be deleted or edited as necessary.
No Comments
Windsor Man Facing Murder Charge
WINDSOR, Mass. — A Windsor man it to charged with murder in the death of his sister on Thursday.
The Berkshire Eagle is reporting that Paul Menard, 65, turned himself into the State Police in Cheshire and allegedly told them he had shot his sister three times.
Monique Menard, 62, was found lying between their Crane Road home and detached garage with gunshot injuries to her back and stomach. Her body was reportedly taken to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner for an autopsy.
Paul Menard was to be arraigned on Friday in Central Berkshire District Court.
The Menards had been reportedly arguing about the care of their ill father when Paul Menard shot her in chest with a black powder pistol, then in the back when she turned toward her vehicle and then in head after she fell and was pleading for her life, according to police report detailed by The Eagle.
However, in the last couple of weeks, one of these sellers returned to the district to inform it that another agency backed out of a vehicle order last minute, so an ambulance became available early.
click for more
In September, when the district got word of a police chase on upper West Street, there were no questions asked when the PPD instructed them to shelter in place.
click for more
The Massachusetts Technology Collaborative's Massachusetts Broadband Institute announced $1.33 million to communities as part of its new Municipal Digital Equity Implementation Program. click for more
During construction, one lane of Wahconah Street will be shut down; northbound traffic will be able to pass down Wahconah Street but southbound traffic will be diverted south on North Street and west on Pontoosuc Avenue.
click for more