Demers Ambulances announced that Phoenix, Ariz., Fire Department has ordered five Demers Type I MXP150 ambulances on Dodge 4500 chassis as part of an emergency vehicle fleet upgrade program. This order is the latest in Demers’ ongoing expansion of sales. Phoenix Fire Department serves the sixth largest metropolitan area in the United States and maintains a fleet of more than 70 ambulances.
“Phoenix Fire Department faces a very demanding emergency medical response and transportation services environment," said Division Chief Scott Walker. "The department covers a large, downtown area, more than 516 square miles and a diversified population with ever-expanding needs. We take a proactive approach to enhancing safety for our firefighters, EMTs and citizens. Demers was able to meet all of our design requirements and offer us the best structurally tested ambulance module in the industry, along with a host of safety and eco-friendly innovations that can make a real difference in our performance.”
“We’re very pleased and honored to have been selected to supply ambulances for one of the largest and busiest fire departments in the United States," said Benoit Lafortune, executive vice president of Demers. "Phoenix is known for its progressive approach on enhancing safety, performance and operating costs. They are a model of how leading fire departments handle emergency response. At Demers, safety is always first and has driven our innovations and designs. These ambulances feature our two captain’s chairs on the curbside instead of a traditional squad bench so the paramedic can provide patient care from a variety of positions while safely belted. They are also reflective of our stringent safety and testing guidelines which extend to a unique aluminum cabinet structure, along with equipment restraints and safety pull-testing that go above and beyond the current standards to help keep crews and patients safer.”
MXP150 Ambulances Designed for Phoenix F.D.
“This ambulance design was specifically engineered to meet the unique requirements of the Phoenix Fire Department based on collaborative discussions with department members and our engineering team. Together, we developed a customized solution that optimizes Phoenix’s ability to respond and care for patients,” said Lafortune.
The new Demers MXP150 ambulances will ride on Dodge 4500 4x2 diesel chassis and feature a 150-inch patient module to maximize payload and maneuverability. The interior cabinetry is constructed of aluminum. The module design was developed specifically to feature two seats on the curbside, one at the patient’s head and one on the streetside to allow paramedics to position themselves wherever needed to optimize care for the patient. The design features a second work station on the curbside and a cabinetry configuration that maximizes storage.
Award-Winning ECOSMART Anti-Idle System Provides Environmental Benefits and Operating Cost Savings
These new MXP 150 ambulances will be equipped with Demers’ exclusive ECOSMART Anti-Idling System to provide Phoenix Fire Department with fuel savings and help lower operating costs over the life of the ambulances. While at idle, the ECOSMART System automatically shuts the chassis engine down when the module interior temperature and all voltage are at the correct levels. Once either the interior temperature or the unit’s voltage moves outside the preset parameter, the system turns the engine back on automatically. The ecological and economic benefits of the system are many: Reduced fuel consumption during idle time; Fuel costs savings; A noteworthy impact on the environment, with reductions of several tons of CO2 emissions per year; Reduced engine hours and increased time between service checks; Longer life for the engine, chassis and ambulance
The ambulances are also equipped with a severe-climate air conditioning system, including:Demers’ exclusive Diffusion AIRFLOW System which generates heat below the medical cabinet at the bottom of the ambulance to flow upward, and the air conditioning system blowing from the ceiling to create a “comfort blanket” for the patient; Individually ducted air conditioning vents to maximize air flow; Separate multiplex-controlled air conditioning and heating systems for maximum efficiency and easier diagnostics and service; 35,000 BTU auxiliary condenser / compressor combination; Roof-mounted, 15,000 BTU RV-style air conditioning unit to maintain module; temperatures while in station.
These new ambulances are scheduled to be delivered in February 2016.
RedSky Fire Apparatus of Phoenix, Arizona, is responsible for pre-delivery inspection, local service and support for the Phoenix Fire Department on this order. The company was established in 2010 and has represented Demers ambulances since 2013. The organization is led by James Featherstone, and their team has more than 70+ years of emergency response experience.
About Phoenix Fire Department
The Phoenix Fire Department responds to more than 170,000 calls annually, with more than 85 percent of those being emergency medical services. Founded in 1886, the department currently protects more than 1.4 million residents across an area of almost 520 square miles. The department is led by Fire Chief Kara Kalkbrenner. Phoenix firefighters are members of union Local 493.
About Demers Ambulances
Demers, Ambulance Manufacturer Inc. (Demers Ambulances) is a world-class leader in ambulance design, manufacture and distribution and one of the largest firms in North America. With more than 50 years of success, Demers has sold more than 15,000 ambulances to customers in over 20 countries. With advanced products that consistently meet and exceed expectations of emergency services specialists around the world, Demers Ambulances is recognized as an innovator in ambulance engineering, introducing and perfecting details that keep paramedics and occupants safe while meeting today’s global challenges.
Demers Ambulances is accredited ISO 9001:2008 and by Transport Canada and the USA DOT, by the National Truck Equipment Association (NTEA) in the USA within their “MEMBER VERIFICATION PROGRAM” and recognized as a “QUALIFIED VEHICLES MODIFIER” (QVM) by the Ford Motor Company and, an approved up fitter for Mercedes Benz Sprinter Customer Assurance Program, Demers ambulances meet or exceed the highest standards in the industry.
The company is headquartered in Beloeil, Quebec, and has a production facility in Plattsburgh, New York.
To learn more about Demers Ambulances, visit demers-ambulances.com
