New ambulance unveiled at Anchorage fire station

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (KTUU) - The Anchorage Fire Department celebrated Monday the arrival of the fourth and final new replacement ambulance.

Chief Douglas Schrage says these replacements were very much needed, especially since the replacements were delayed the last few years.

“In order to keep our 13 ambulances on the road every day, we have to replace two every year because they last about seven years apiece,” Schrage explained. “So this is replacing a much older rig that’s actually older than seven years.”

The last replacement, Medic 5, is being assigned to the Spenard fire station, Station 5, and is already in service.

Schrage says that this fire station is very busy since it serves the Spenard, Turnagain, and Anchorage airport areas.

The new ambulance would be running roughly 10 calls a day, he said.

“Sometimes the ambulance crew will show up and they’ll find that no medical needs exist. And maybe they can connect the caller with different services. Other times, they might have a full-blown cardiac arrest — like we had this morning — and, in fact, saved a life this morning,” Schrage said.

The new replacement ambulances will also feature improved technology, including a more efficient heater, LED lighting, and enhanced oxygen management controls.

The new ambulance cost $375,000, and Schrage says he expects it to last about seven years.

“They’ll put a couple hundred thousand miles on it in that amount of time.”

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