Ogden First Responders purchase new ambulance

After reoccurring mechanical problems and less than a year of fundraising, the Ogden First Responders have finally purchased and received their newest piece of equipment, a 2016 Ford E-450 Road Rescue Ambulance.

“It is nice to have a reliable piece of equipment that we can finally depend on,” said Terry Will, service director and EMT of the First Responders. “It’s the first brand new ambulance that we’ve had since the organization was started.”

The new ambulance was built by Everest Emergency Vehicles in St. Paul, Minnesota. It was a demo model, with less than 4,000 miles and has never been in service. It is powered by a V-10 gas engine.

“We fully intended to order a brand new 2017 ambulance and have it delivered in 90 days from the date of order,” Will stated. “However, we couldn’t wait three months for a brand new one due to the old ambulance having mechanical problems and being out of service.”

The City Council approved the purchase of the new ambulance at the June meeting after receiving a quote of $152,000. Once it was ordered, the graphics were picked out, new sway bars and heavy duty shocks were added, and a new base was added for the cot so the first responders would be in compliance with a new state mandate.

Read more in the Aug. 9 issue of The Ogden Reporter.