Excerpts from the Chicago Tribune:
It was a wise decision by Clarendon Hills officials to keep their old ambulance as a backup after purchasing a new $259,000 unit in December 2014. The newly acquired 2015 Freightliner/Horton ambulance, which arrived on December 11, has been out of service since February 23 due to cracks inside the cabin, according to Fire Chief Brian Leahy.
The vehicle is expected to remain off the road until late March while repairs are carried out. “There was significant cracking, and we sent it back to the dealer,†Leahy explained. The dealer, Foster Coach Sales, Inc., based in Sterling, Illinois, specializes exclusively in ambulances and forwarded the unit to its manufacturer, Horton Ambulance, in Ohio.
“On March 9, the ambulance will be disassembled and then reassembled,†Leahy said. “It started with one crack, and then five more appeared within a week. The entire interior needs to be taken apart and put back together.â€
While Leahy expressed disappointment that the new ambulance is already out of commission just months after its arrival, he remains confident that the issue will be resolved. “It’s a glitch; I don’t think it’s a lemon,†he said. “The problem is cosmetic, but it definitely needs to be fixed.â€
Until the new ambulance is repaired, the town is using its 2008 model again. Originally, the plan was to sell or trade in the older ambulance, which received two verbal offers of $30,000 each. However, internal discussions led to the decision to keep the 2008 ambulance as a reserve unit for situations like regular maintenance, mechanical failure, or accidents.
Traditionally, the fire department has operated with just one ambulance. While a ladder truck is equipped with some medical equipment, it cannot transport patients to the hospital. Leahy said the department can manage without a backup during the repair period, but Foster Coach Sales has offered to provide a loaner if needed.
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