The Glen Carbon Fire Protection District has added another ambulance to its fleet.

This brings the number of ambulances to four.

GCFPD EMS Director Eric Wilson said this is the 10th anniversary of EMS response service to the community.

“We started with two ambulances and one 24/7 crew,” Wilson said. “We now have four ambulances and two 24/7 crews with a third crew available during daytime hours, Monday through Friday.”

GCFPD Trustee Christopher Otto said the additional ambulance is a vital addition to the village.

“We have three crews and four ambulances,” Otto said. “If one of the ambulances is down for repairs we will still be able to provide full service to the community.”

The fire engine was retired from active service in 1954 but kept on as a reserve engine.  It's last know use as a pumper was during the Huntsville flood of March 1973 when it was used to pump water out of the Huntsville Utilities building for two days. 

In 1999 the fire engine took part in it's first modern day Huntsville parade.  It has since been restored and continues to take part in Huntsville's parades and today demonstrated that it still has what it takes to be a pumper engine. 

It’s taken a few years, but the historical society, along with the Town of Florence and Florence Volunteer Fire Department, will show off the newly restored 1917-1918 fire truck at 2 p.m. Sunday at the Encore on Central in Florence.

The town acquired the Ford truck in 1917. But as it was replaced by more modern models, the 1917 truck went into storage.