by Carol Dunn
LA VETA-At its December 15 meeting, the La Veta Fire Protection District Board voted to order a new ambulance for the District. The Board approved up to $147,000 for a Braun Max Fire box on a 2009 Dodge 4500 4×4 chassis. Several options were selected, including a stair chair pocket and strap on an exterior door, extra storage in a CPR seat inside the back of the ambulance, and an integrated child care seat built into the attendant seat in back. According to Malea Schmidt, EMS Director, an additional exterior compartment may be added if dimensions allow.
To purchase the ambulance, LVFPD has a grant of $57,000 from the State of Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, EMS Division. A match of $57,000 has been secured by Chris Riggs, the District’s contract grant writer. Up to $20,000 in additional funds will come from the Quick Response Team group. The QRT used to run the ambulance service before the emergency medical services came under the umbrella of LVFPD. QRT has remained active as a Colorado nonprofit to receive donations and raise funds for items needed by EMS which LVFPD would not or could not buy.
The District expects to put the new ambulance into service in June, 2009.
