DALTON, Mass. — The Fire District will hold a special town meeting on Tuesday, Dec. 3, at the Stationary Factory to appropriate funds for the purchase of an ambulance. 

 

The district is requesting the voters authorize borrowing up to $350,000 for the purchase of a new ambulance and any costs related to the purchase. 

 

During a meeting at the beginning of November, interim Fire Chief Chris Cachat informed the Board of Water Commissioners that an ambulance had unexpectedly become available. 

 

The board was previously informed that ambulance purveyors told ambulance committee members that the projected cost of an ambulance is about $450,000 to $500,000 with a build time of three years. 

 

Since that meeting, however, one of these sellers returned to the district to inform it that another agency backed out of a vehicle order at the last minute, so an ambulance became available early, Cachat said. 

 

The anticipated cost is about $345,000 to be rolled out as an Advanced Life Support unit, he said.

 

The projected cost would include transferring the radios and power load stretcher system from the district's old ambulance to the new one, Cachat said. 

 

This apparatus would be an F450 series, which is a pickup-style, two-wheel drive, so it would have a larger motor and transmission, heavier-duty brakes, and just an all-around heavy-duty vehicle, he said. 

 

Additionally, the price increase that the district would face if it waited three years would no longer a concern, and the trade-in values now are greater than what it will be three years from now, Cachat previously said. 

 

The station has two ambulances — a 2016 International and a 2019 Ford 50. However, only the Ford 50 still operates as an Advanced Life Support vehicle. It has been demonstrated both vehicles need to be replaced due to their deteriorating condition. 

 

Cachat said the ambulance committee will examine the apparatus to ensure that it meets the department's specifications and is "exactly what we're looking for."

 

The trade-in value of the department's 2019 Ford 50 is $30,000, and $3,500 for its 2016 International.