he 2009 E-450 ambulance donation is valued at around $15,000 compared to the $180,000 cost of a new ambulance.

"We decided to donate the ambulance to Arkansas Tech-Ozark because we think that it will be a good partnership with ATU and we are very interested in the paramedic program there," said Tim W. Hearn, executive director of Fort Smith EMS. "We draw from that program for new paramedics. After speaking with Josh Freeman, the director of Paramedic/Emergency Services, and Bruce Sikes, the Chancellor, we saw a need and thought it would be a good fit."

Arkansas Tech-Ozark already houses an ambulance simulator built into the paramedic simulation lab in the new Health Sciences and Wellness Building but this will be the first ambulance students will be able to drive. The ambulance will assist in practicing loading and unloading patients and will help students gain experience riding and working in an ambulance.

"We value the service of Fort Smith EMS to our students and community," said Bruce Sikes, chancellor of Arkansas Tech-Ozark Campus, "And we appreciate Tim Hearn's leadership as it relates to educating future EMTs and paramedics."

Fort Smith EMS is no stranger to community service. The 501c3 non-profit is involved in several community programs including several schools in the area, the Arkansas EMT Association, the Arkansas Ambulance Association, Reynolds Cancer Support House, Fort Smith Chamber of Commerce, Infant & Child Death Review Committee, Leadership Fort Smith and more. The organization also volunteers at several community events and several employees mentor students all year.

The former fire station had been in use since the 1980s and never did have a lot of room, Bender said. His office was also used as the radio room.

The new station is expansive and was built in preparation for the future. While Bender is the only paid firefighter on the 26-member department, there are 12 dorm rooms to house future paid staff if that develops. The rooms can also be used by emergency medical technicians who are on duty and by firefighters who man the station during emergencies, such as winter blizzards.

There is a training room, meeting rooms and a lounge with seven soft, oversized recliners facing a large-screen TV. In the kitchen, local woodworking craftsmanship is on display in the wooden cabinets. There are also two large roll-out coolers that will be used for the department's fish fries that are popular town events. Outside there is a training area and Bender said in the future there may be additional training props constructed there.

Out in the truck bay, there is room for the department's eight vehicles and space for adding more.

The station was built large and with amenities for full-time staff because the town of 1,200 residents has seen a lot of industrial growth, with more planned.

The Town Council purchased 51 acres of land from Starcraft Marine for the station location. However, the council sold off 44 of those acres to Crossroads RV. That sale covered about $3.5 million of the cost of the $3.9 million station. The town also took out a $5.9 million bond to help pay for the station and to finance other projects, according to Bender.

The station has just a punch list of items being checked off, and the final cost for the renovation isn't totaled. However, with the work done by Scherrer Construction and BurliSigns, Umnus said the fire company is already settling in nicely.

The renovation flipped the equipment bays to a new, pre-engineered structure on what had previously been the parking lot. The structure has 14-foot doors - compared to the 10-foot doors previously - and more bay space.

There is now meeting space as well, with a dedicated conference room. There are also new bathrooms, a new kitchen and renovated office space.

The space in the firehouse more than doubled to 6,150 square feet, and Umnus said he is pleased the building can house an engine, a tanker, two grass rigs, the department's ATV and also one of the boats.

The heavy rescue truck that had previously been at the station was moved to station No. 3 on Browns Lake.

With mechanicals in the building dating back to 1969, Umnus said the work was desperately needed.

Now, not only will the fire department be using the space. Rather than having to clear apparatus out of the bays on election days, the meeting space will be used for voting. The Bohners Lake associations will have space for their meetings, and the Town of Burlington Fire Department meetings will also be held consistently at the new station.

As emblems on the truck indicate, 307 was assigned to the No. 2 Brighton Fire District at Twelve Corners. It was among many that responded to the famous Brighton Twelve Corners gas explosions in 1951. Other major incidents include three fires at the Maplewood Inn on East Avenue in 1949, 1957 and 1965; Wegman's warehouse in 1961; Allendale School in 1966; and Fox's Deli in 1974.

The New York Museum of Transportation is run by volunteers and is open Sundays only, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Train rides are offered on the only electric trolley operation in New York state. Rides depart every 30 minutes beginning at 11:30 a.m. The museum contains numerous trolley cars, a steam locomotive, horse-drawn and highway vehicles, several model railroads and a giftshop.