Westlake Volunteer Fire Department took delivery of two new approximately $240,000 ambulances on Friday, April 9. The new emergency vehicles come with increased space for EMTs to maneuver and are mounted on a Ford F-450 chassis, said Westlake VFD Public Information Officer Lieutenant Joe Driver.

“Right now (our communications staff) are installing the radios (and computers),” Driver said. ‘That’s the only thing that Frazer can’t do. They actually started that yesterday and my understanding is that will be finished sometime this week.”

Frazer, Ltd. Is the company that created the new, custom ambulances for Westlake VFD. The new first responder vehicles were purchased by Harris County Emergency Services District 47 which oversees the VFD’s activities as a managing and funding entity. The new machines boast a 14-foot patient treatment cabin which is a step up from the 12-foot treatment areas on the two ambulances the VFD will be retiring now that they’ve reached their life expectancy. Ambulances generally last about a decade per Texas Department of Health guidelines. Driver said the increased space should allow EMTs more room to care for patients which can add to patient and staff safety.

“This will allow our personnel more room to maneuver comfortably while providing patient care. Also, it is equipped with liquid spring suspension to provide a smoother ride for both patient and personnel,” Driver said.

The computers and radio equipment will be joined by a 360-degree camera system which allows more safety when maneuvering the large vehicles through traffic and in tight spaces, Driver said.

The peripheral equipment is expected to be installed by the end of the week which will allow the ambulances to go into service.

Driver said the staff at Westlake VFD appreciate the HCESD 47 commissioners and the equipment selection committee for their effort to ensure the department has dependable and safe equipment to work with.