Politics & Government
Arlington Heights Gets Two New Ambulances
Set to go into service in December, the Arlington Heights Fire Department received two new ambulances this month.
At $196,000 a piece, the Arlington Height Fire Department got two new ambulances this month. The two IHC 4300/Medtec ambulances are the village’s first Type I ambulances.
“It’s a little bit larger so there is more room to work on patients in the rear,” Arlington Heights fire chief Glenn Erickson said. “They’re a little bit bigger and a little bit heavier duty than the one they’re replacing."
The two new ambulances are set to replace two of the department’s reserve ambulances that are roughly 8 years old.
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“Arguably, the life span is about eight years and that's when they’re replaced,” Erickson said.
Erickson added the department expects the two new vehicles to last for about 10 years. “This is a different type of vehicle than what we’re used to,” Erickson said, “But it’s more common with the rest of the village’s fleet of trucks so it’s going to improve maintenance and the reliability of the vehicles.”
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Currently the Arlington Heights Fire Department has six ambulances, four that are in service and two used as reserves for mechanical or call-back purposes. Two were purchased in 2006, another set in 2007. In 2004, the pair that are being replaced were bought.
Delivered in mid-November, the two new ambulances will go into service around Dec. 10. Erickson said the department still has some fittings to do and then will go through inspections before the vehicles can be used. As soon as the ambulances are good to go, one will head to station 1 at 300 E. Sigwalt Street and the other to station 2 at 1150 N. Arlington Heights Road.
According to Erickson, the process to purchase the new ambulances began last December. The village approved the nearly $400,000, then the department waited for the Northwest Municipal Conference to establish a bid process so Arlington Heights could get a discount through a joint purchase.
Currently the fire department has six engines, two ladder towers, four specialized squads and six ambulances. As soon as the new ambulances come into service, Erickson said those that are being replaced will be traded in.
