The Big River Ambulance District has a new ambulance, plus another one on the way.
In addition, plans are in the works to replace House 1 in Cedar Hill.
Chief Scott Fisher said the new Dodge ambulance cost $283,140 and was delivered Jan. 10.
He said on Jan. 13 that the district was waiting for a radio to be installed in the ambulance before it could be put into service at House 1, 6321 Lorens Lane, Cedar Hill. That work is expected to be complete in the next week or two.
“Once the ambulance is in service, we will post something on our social media to let the public know they can come by and see it,” Fisher said.
He said that ambulance replaces a 2008 Chevrolet ambulance. However, “the box” from that old ambulance will be repurposed, allowing the district to get another new ambulance at a lower cost.
“We will take the box from that old ambulance and it will be mounted on a new Ford chassis,” he said.
Fisher said that chassis has been ordered and is expected to arrive in July.
“The box will be stripped out and updated, like renovating a home so it will be all new inside,” he said. “It will probably be August or September before it’s ready.”
Fisher said the total cost for the new Ford chassis and the update to the box will be $224,784.
When that ambulance is ready, it will replace a 2010 Freightliner that probably will be traded in, he said.
Both ambulances are being funded with revenue from a $17 million bond issue voters approved in August.
With the new Dodge ambulance, the district has five ambulances in its fleet, with “three on the road every day and two backups,” Fisher said.
The district also recently got four new power stretchers with lift systems, which altogether cost $184,000 and also were funded with funds from the bond issue.
The new stretchers and lift systems allow patients to be lifted and loaded into ambulances without crews having to do the heavy lifting.
“It will save a lot of backaches and injuries,” Fisher said.
He said the new equipment also should reduce the number of workers’ compensation claims.
“We did research and other districts report that after having these stretchers, workers’ comp claims go down 30 percent,” Fisher said.
Replacing House 1
The district also plans to use bond issue money to replace House 1.
“We’re working with our architect, FGMA in St. Louis, to finalize the plans, and we’re hoping to break ground in the spring,” Fisher said.
After the plans are finished, the district will seek construction bids, he said.
Fisher said he didn’t have an estimate for the architectural fees.
However, the district has budgeted $4.5 million to replace House 1, he said.
Fisher said the existing house is outdated and has mold problems.
“It’s been here since 1975. It originally was a car auto repair shop, and it never was meant to house EMS (emergency medical service personnel),” he said. “It’s been rehabbed, added onto, and there’s no more room to add on. It’s also costly to maintain.”
That $4.5 million estimate for the new house includes the $300,000 cost for a 10.3-acre property the district bought next door to House 1, which gives the district enough land to expand, Fisher said.
“That land originally was owned by a guy who willed it to Lutheran Senior Services in north St. Louis,” he said.
The district bought the land from that organization.
Fisher said he is grateful the district now has the money to replace the house and make other improvements.
“We want to thank the community for passing the bond issue to improve our services and better serve the community,” he said.
The district covers an area of about 125 square miles that covers parts of Byrnes Mill, Cedar Hill, Dittmer, Grubville, Hillsboro, House Springs, Morse Mill and Ware.
The district also has houses at 4795 Tishomingo Road in the Hillsboro area and 6969 Wild Cherry Lane in House Springs.