The newest addition to the Arbutus Volunteer Fire Department's fleet is set to hit the streets in a matter of weeks. Fire department officials hope that a new Medic 356 will be in service July 1.
The ambulance — a 2015 Dodge Ram 5500 — replaces a 2007 GMC medium-duty truck that went out of service in May; it had about 101,000 miles on it.
The fire department looks into replacing ambulances every eight to 10 years, according to Capt. Norm Simpkins Jr. This is the first time the fire department has purchased a new ambulance since 2011, when a Medic 355 was added, he said.
The new safety features and functions that the new vehicle provides impressed Simpkins.
"It's good not only for the citizens that we serve but for our members who ride the piece of apparatus," he said.
Last year, the prior Medic 356 was starting to show signs of its age, said Matt Urick, a paramedic and firefighter for the department. Wear and tear was starting to show, and maintenance costs were adding up.
In July, the fire department announced the formation of a committee to find a replacement. Urick was tasked with leading it.