EAST PEORIA, Ill. (AP) — The fire department in East Peoria, Illinois, has found a way to save money by purchasing a refurbished ambulance.The (Peoria) Journal Star reports paramedics started using the ambulance for service runs this week after the vehicle passed a state inspection.
The fire department purchased the vehicle for about $214,000 from Arrow Ambulance, a company in Rock Rapids, Iowa. The Iowa company remounts refurbished ambulance boxes on new base frames. That means the ambulance’s back shell and cabinetry has been refurbished. The chassis is new.
East Peoria officials say they saved about $40,000, which can be allocated to other equipment. Fire Chief Al Servis says it’s hard to see a difference between the refurbished vehicle and a new ambulance.
Commissioner John Kahl calls the purchase a wise decision.
