JEFFERSON COUNTY, Ohio — The Hillndale Fire Department received an upgraded ambulance Thursday, marking its first major ambulance acquisition in approximately 20 years.
The department funded the unit through taxpayer support and community fundraisers. Hillndale Fire Chief Jeffrey Cline said the department answers approximately 200 calls each year within a 12-mile service area.
To control costs, the department reused the patient compartment from its 2005 ambulance and mounted it on a new 2027 chassis. The updated unit also includes improvements to its heating and cooling equipment, electrical system and emergency lighting.
Cline said a new ambulance purchased two decades ago cost approximately $90,000. Comparable units now typically cost between $350,000 and $400,000 before customization.
Department officials expect the upgraded ambulance to improve response times and reduce Hillndale’s reliance on emergency medical assistance from neighboring communities.
