"It's a Sumner County ambulance service and it may be located in Gallatin, but when we leave here this afternoon, one of us may need that ambulance right here," said Sumner County Commissioner Paul Decker, who also serves on the emergency services committee. "It's for all of Sumner County and I think the prospects of us maybe having to do (this) in other parts of the county are very high, but I don't think that's a bad thing."

Gallatin city leaders chose to seek funding from the county for the EMS portion of the 13,000-square-foot station after they were informed in October that it would cost an estimated $3.3 million to build the facility. The city has $1.8 million budgeted for the project.

Currently, it takes an ambulance between eight and 13 minutes to respond to some areas along Lock 4 Road between Nashville Pike and Peach Valley Road from the nearest station on Airport Road, according to Sumner County EMS data.

Gallatin-based Goodall Homes has plans to build 233 new homes in the immediate area of the proposed fire station. Of those, the 206-unit Patterson Farms development is expected to be completed by 2020, according to an estimated timeline for construction submitted earlier this year to the city's planning department.

The firefighters had minor injuries. The female patient was not hurt in the crash. No other vehicles were involved.

The Arlington Fire Department took the firefighters and the woman to the hospital.

Councilman Bob Williams, who sponsored the resolution, says closing an engine poses a safety risk. He estimates the $300,000 would cover overtime costs for Engine 6 firefighters for three months, giving incoming mayor Mike Purzycki time to prepare his budget.