County Board Chairman Kurt Prenzler said the county makes the vehicles available to governmental entities after being taken out of service because of high mileage or age. The county initiated the program more than 12 years ago for municipalities and emergency service departments.

Quartermouse said the 2009 Ford Crown Victoria with 124,000 miles will be used as the chief’s vehicle but will be loaded with emergency equipment that can be used immediately to aid first responders at calls.

The process involves taking the patient area, known at the box, and placing it on a new chassis, according to EMS Director Roylin Hammond.

The trucks were remounted because the two diesel engines had mechanical issues that kept them out of service frequently. The two new chassis have gasoline powered engines.

Remounting was a quicker and cheaper alternative to purchasing new.

Police were able to track the ambulance using GPS to an Exxon gas station on Highway 290 and Huffmeister.

"People in the area, in restaurants, advised that ambulance pulled in with lights and sirens on. A male wearing a blue shirt jumped out and ran on foot," said Lt. Larry Crowson, of Houston Police.

Earlier this summer, the Maine Municipal Association also awarded the department $1,600 to buy two new self-contained breathing apparatus air bottles.

In addition, the neighboring St. Agatha Fire Department, which recently upgraded its hoses, donated more than 3,500 feet of used large diameter hose to the Frenchville department.