DALTON, Mass.—The Fire District established an ambulance committee to address solutions for the poor condition of the station's two ambulances. 

 

During last week's Board of Water Commissioners meeting, interim Fire Chief Chris Cachat requested that a committee form to examine cost, bill times, availability, and options for addressing the issue. 

 

"I think it's a good idea because we have no idea what the cost of bill out an ambulance will be now," board chair Jim Driscoll said. 

 

"I think it's time to explore now, then later, when we're up against the wall."  

 

The station has two ambulances–a 2016 International and a 2019 Ford 50. 

 

Driscoll said the 2016 International ambulance has been out of service for the last month due to brake issues. He added that it has been difficult to order parts.

 

"It was just a module that was hard to get," he said. 

 

Cachat said the International is generally used as a backup ambulance, but the district would consider rotating it into main service.

 

The station is running its 2019 Ford 50 for its Advanced Life Support services.  

 

The Dalton Fire Association built the ambulance as a Basic Life Support unit and later donated it to the Fire District, he said. 

 

When the district took over the ambulance service from the association, it only offered Basic Life Support. 

 

Halfway through 2022, the district decided to train staff in Advanced Life Support (ALS). Fiscal 2023 was the district's first full year offering ALS.

 

The additional load of ALS is leading to accelerated wear and tear on the ambulance, Cachat said. 

 

"So at that time, the truck was built with lighter brakes, lighter transmission, lighter electrical charging systems and all that was in place at that time. Now that we have gone to an ALS unit, the electrical system, [and] the alternator system is all being overtaxed," Cachat said. 

 

"We're having trouble with electrical. We're going through brakes because the brakes aren't as big, because now we're carrying more equipment, and we're just getting to the point where we're going to wear this truck out quicker than we should."

 

The committee would also explore possibly returning to one ambulance to help reduce costs. 

 

"That would also reduce the cost of trying to run and staff two ambulances with insurance and maintenance and stuff," Cachat said. 

 

"It probably would give us savings in the long run, and also decrease on repair bills as we're hopefully going to build a heavier duty vehicle that can withstand our use as an ALS ambulance service."