By Dustin Amtower
New Creek Volunteer Fire Department
NEW CREEK — The New Creek Volunteer Fire Department received word at the last Mineral County Ambulance Authority meeting that they will be replacing an aging ambulance.
38-70, the first ambulance that New Creek was given from the authority, has been in service since September 2006. The ambulance is currently the oldest in the entire county fleet, at 14 years, and had previously served in Ridgeley. The ambulance had served well, but had begun to rapidly deteriorate.
A committee was formed by the ambulance authority to investigate whether it would be more beneficial for the county to repair the aging unit, or replace it. The unit has had several fluid leaks, rust, and body damage — all from normal usage over such a long time.
Since being placed in service in New Creek, the unit has responded to several hundred emergency calls.
Within the past two weeks, the department had spoken with and viewed four different ambulance manufacturers. Members have already decided to go with a Ford F-450 4x4 chassis. The majority of the money will come from the authority to purchase the unit, although New Creek will also have to pick up some of the bill.
The current ambulance that is being replaced will go out of service within the next week. There will, however, still be two ambulances covering the New Creek Valley.
At the same ambulance authority meeting, it was decided that due to the condition of the ambulance, it was to be taken out of service at the earliest convenience. There was discussion on how the same level of coverage would be provided. During the meeting, a representative from Ridgeley VFD offered to allow New Creek to use their second ambulance temporarily, until a new unit could arrive.
The membership of New Creek VFD would like to thank the membership of Ridgeley for their generosity.
The department would also like to announce that their new fire apparatus has also arrived. Tower 38 was delivered in early June. The apparatus will not be placed in service until members finish training with the new unit. A nationally accredited Aerial Operator class has just begun at the department. The class will go further in to detail, the jobs and different responsibilities of “truck work.” If anyone is interested in viewing the apparatus, or if they should have any questions, they are encouraged to feel free to stop by the fire station.
If anyone should be interested in membership with the department, information can be gathered from the website, www.nc38fd.com, or by contacting any member, or by stopping by the fire station. The department not only offers membership for firefighting, but also for EMS, social (fundraising/administrative), and for the ladies auxiliary.
