The Edwardsville Fire Department's newest vehicle, an ambulance, hit the road Monday in response to service calls.
No. 1342 is a new Ford F-550 medium-duty cab and chassis with an ambulance box attached.
"It offers additional safety features for paramedics and patients riding in the back," said Edwardsville Fire Chief James Whiteford. "These include airbags, improved five-point seatbelt harnesses and an upgraded cot lock-down attachment.
"It is outfitted with room to hold fire gear and self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA), so if our paramedic/firefighters are out on the street and happen to be the closest to a fire call, they can respond and begin rescue operations immediately," he said.
Whiteford added that an upgraded dual-band radio will allow firefighter/paramedics to communicate with the department's mutual-aid partners on both the fire and police sides.
The new unit will be based at the Montclaire Fire Station until this fall when the new East Fire Station opens on Governors' Parkway.
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