The crash left the ambulance unable to continue to Jamaica Hospital, and another one had to be dispatched, according to the sources.

The ambulance was heading through the intersection of 4500 South and 1300 East in Holladay when it was hit by a white Ford Explorer around 09L15 a.m.

The ambulance flipped onto it side and the explorer smashed into a nearby street pole.

The patient was an 88-year-old male who was headed to St. Marks hospital. The patient stayed on the stretcher, but the medic that was with him was tossed around the ambulance. Both were transported to the hospital for evaluation and treatment of minor injuries.

The 39-year-old female driver of the Ford Explorer had two children with her when the crash happened. They received minor injuries and went to the hospital for evaluation.

Unified Police say several witnesses reported the Explorer ran a red light, but investigators say they will use physical evidence at the scene to determine the exact cause.

"Some of the guys act like your second, third, 13th father. They guide you through things," said Shawn Dunstan, who volunteers along with his brother and father.

The station was where their fathers, and the family’s closest friends, spent most of their time.

"All of them know my whole life story. And when I asked how they know this stuff, they tell me, because your dad talks about you all the time," said volunteer Lauren Pinkston, whose father has volunteered since he was 15. "I grew up in the firehouse. I love the family, camaraderie of it."

When their fathers were home, bedtimes were dominated with tales of their fathers’ most recent shifts.

Those options could see the city upgrade or refurbish the building -- or declare it surplus property and try to find a buyer. The QC African-American Museum, a nonprofit group, has expressed interest in buying the building for $1 and converting it into a museum featuring African-American history.

But the major challenge is the cost. Roof and window work is needed; the floors are bowed.

At a June 1 meeting, Rock Island's public works director Randy Tweet estimated upgrading the structure would cost $250,000 to $600,000. Demolition, he said, is estimated at $40,000.

Rock Island's parks and recreation director John Gripp said he has heard differing opinions on what to do with the old fire station. While not a lot of people attended the June 1 meeting, Mr. Gripp said he has since received at least two dozen phone calls from people.

"The majority were for taking that firehouse down and investing in the (Douglas) park," he said.

"If that's what needs to be done, they understood the importance of the firehouse but didn't agree with the funds needed to go with it just to get it started," Mr. Gripp said. "That would be $600,000 to turn it into something usable and $250,000 just to make it safe to go in."

Thanks to the do-it-yourselfers at Bayshore, the repurposing of the vehicle will save more than $100,000.

Bayshore Fire Chief Larry Nisbet said their old 1973 6X6 military brush truck with a standard transmission was no longer capable of doing the work.

"The new vehicle had only 10,000 miles on it and is a four-wheel drive, 2.5-ton military truck with an automatic transmission," Nisbet said. "Because none of the kids these days knows how to drive a stick shift."

It took Bayshore firefighters six months to complete all the work including welding, construction, plumbing and mounting of equipment, painting the unit, and servicing the motor and transmission.

The cost of a new truck, Nisbet said, would likely be more than $125,000. After the department got finished with the old military vehicle, the final cost was less than $10,000.

The vehicle, which was used in Iraq, is loaned to the district by the Florida Forest Service to use and convert as needed. The district is able to use it until it is no longer serviceable or needed on one condition.