In order to improve response times, LFR has added a 7th ambulance to its fleet. Medic Unit 1, previously a reserve unit, has been upgraded to a full-time "front line" ambulance.

Currently, on average, the front line units answer an average of nearly 3,600 calls a year.

"Medic 8 answered 4,034 last year," Trouba said. "These units are busy. That's over 10 calls a day. And when you take into account each call takes at least an hour, sometimes two or three, and there's paperwork that has to be filled out for each call too. It takes a toll on our guys."

. The truck was obtained through a FEMA grant that Captain Jeff Dias and Captain Howard Anderson spent well over six months working on.

“People never see the hours of work we put into accomplishing something like this,” Onset Fire Chief Ray Goodwin said. “We’re extremely proud of Captains Dias and Anderson for their commitment to this town.”

The grant, which comes through the Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program, gave $285,000 to the department for the purchase of the new vehicle. The department was only required to match 5 percent of those funds in return.

According to FEMA Fire Program Specialist David Parr, the grant process is extremely competitive with more than 10,000 applicants per year and only 2,000 grants awarded.

“Grants like these really make a difference in small communities” Parr said. “And as a former firefighter, I know how important this is for Onset.”

The new tanker replaces a 1983 military surplus tank truck which was obtained through the through the Federal Excess Property Program at no cost in 2001.