Gravette gets new ambulance

The City of Gravette has received a new ambulance for its fire/ambulance department according to fire chief David Smith.
The City of Gravette has received a new ambulance for its fire/ambulance department according to fire chief David Smith.

— GRAVETTE - The City of Gravette has received a new ambulance for its fire/ambulance department according to fire chief David Smith.

The $165,880 ambulance, built in Orlando, Fla., pulled into the Gravette fire station parking lot at 8 a.m. Monday. It was delivered by Justin Jarvis of Gravette, regional sales manager for Road Rescue, a firm which supplies emergency vehicles nationwide.

The vehicle is built on a 2013 Dodge chassis and is equipped with the latest in rescue features. Paramedic equipment is in the process of being transferred to the new vehicle from one of Gravette’s ambulances. The older vehicle will be placed on reserve stand-by status, Smith said.

Smith said the new ambulance will upgrade the city’s service to the hundreds of people in northwest Benton County who rely onGravette. Two older ambulances were purchased by the city about two years ago and maintenance costs have increased during recent months.

“Both of Gravette’s ambulances had been dispatched earlier Monday to a football injury,” Smith said. Because of the wide area served by Gravette, it is not rare for both vehicles to be on call at one time. Having the new ambulance will help in meeting those needs.

Gravette’s ambulance service was upgraded to paramedic status about a year ago and is staffed 24/7 at the fi re department station.

The new ambulance is being financed with a $60,000 payment from the city’s vehicle appreciation fund. That fund will finance a 60-month, 3.5 percent interest rate note at the Bank of Gravett for $105,880. The annual payment will be $23,417, according to city fi nance director Tracy Sewell.

News, Pages 1 on 08/28/2013