The Longview Fire Department has purchased a new ambulance to respond to medical emergencies when the private contract ambulance service, AMR, has no ambulances available.
The purchase was approved by the city in August after Fire Chief Jim Kambeitz told the city council that the agency’s current vehicle is primed for “major breakdown.” The old ambulance was a surplus purchase from Cowlitz 2 Fire & Rescue and mechanics said the engine could fail at any point. A new vehicle was expected to cost about $350,000.
The new ambulance will be based at Longview Fire Station 82, located at 2355 38th Ave, according to a Longview Fire press release. It was built by Braun NW, maker of North Star Emergency Response Vehicles in Chehalis, and paid for with federal funds through the Washington State Health Authority’s Ground Emergency Medical Transport program.