Dalton Fire Dedicates Ambulance to Late Christopher Doyle
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| The Fire Department has two ambulances: a 2019 Ford Econoline and a 2016 International. Discussions during several meetings highlighted the need to replace both vehicles due to their deteriorating condition. |
DALTON, Mass. — The Fire District's new ambulance, customized with decals and lettering, will be put into service next week.
The ambulance will not only transport patients but also honor the late firefighter Christopher Doyle, who died on Sept. 15, 2019, from a sudden heart attack at age 27.
The 2024 Ford F-450 Road Rescue Ambulance arrived in white and has been customized with red and blue lettering by RSI Signs in Pittsfield.
Additionally, in the bottom corner on the right side is the firehouse emblem with Doyle's name. A picture of him also hangs in the front office of the department.
"We dedicate this ambulance to honor the life and service of Chris Doyle, a beloved member of our team who dedicated their life to serving others," Captain Dennis Tinker said.
"Christopher was more than just a colleague; he was a friend, a mentor, and a hero who embodied the very spirit of compassion, bravery, and selflessness."
Tinker mentioned that the department plans to hold a dedication ceremony once the weather warms up.
Doyle served on the Dalton Fire Department for about four years, his brother, Cody Doyle, said.
Cody Doyle, inspired by his brother, currently serves on the Dalton Fire Department. Christopher Doyle often praised the career and took Cody to the station.
He was "the best person to ever walk through these doors. He always knew how to make people smile. He always cracking jokes. So, just a great person overall," Doyle said.
Doyle said the dedication is greatly appreciated and shows how many people cared for and knew his brother.
District Clerk and Treasurer Melanie Roucoulet said he is greatly missed.
In December, district voters approved borrowing up to $350,000 to purchase a new ambulance and any related costs.
The Fire Department has two ambulances: a 2019 Ford Econoline and a 2016 International. Discussions during several meetings highlighted the need to replace both vehicles due to their deteriorating condition.
The district will trade in both vehicles. The Ford has a trade-in value of $30,000 and the International $2,500, according to previous comments from the district.
Roucoulet previously said all the paperwork to trade in the vehicles has been completed.
The district secured a loan from Greenfield Co-operative Bank with a 4.75 percent interest rate, which could decrease in future years.
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