Excerpts from the Chicago Tribune:
It seems like a wise decision by Clarendon Hills officials to keep their old ambulance as a backup after purchasing a new $259,000 model in December 2014. The 2015 Freightliner/Horton ambulance, which arrived on December 11, has been out of service since February 23 due to cracks forming on the interior walls, according to Fire Chief Brian Leahy. It’s expected to remain offline for repairs until late March.
"There was significant cracking, and we sent it back to the dealer," Leahy explained. "We're hoping this is just a temporary setback."
The ambulance was purchased from Foster Coach Sales, Inc., a Sterling, Illinois-based company that specializes in ambulances. They sent the unit back to Horton Ambulance, the manufacturer in Ohio, for further inspection and repair.
"On March 9, the ambulance will be disassembled and then reassembled," Leahy said. "It started with one crack, and within a week, there were five more. The entire interior will need to be taken apart and put back together."
While Leahy is disappointed that the new ambulance is already out of commission just months after its arrival, he remains confident that the issue will be resolved. "It's a glitch, not a lemon," he said. "The problem is cosmetic, but it definitely needs to be fixed."
In the meantime, the department has returned the 2008 ambulance to service. Originally, the plan was to sell or trade in the older vehicle. Two verbal offers of $30,000 each were received, but internal discussions led to a different idea: keeping the 2008 ambulance as a reserve unit.
This decision was made to ensure the department can still respond effectively if the new ambulance is temporarily unavailable due to maintenance, mechanical issues, or accidents. Traditionally, the fire department has operated with just one ambulance. While a ladder truck is equipped with some medical equipment, it isn’t suitable for transporting patients to the hospital.
Leahy mentioned that the department could manage without a backup ambulance during the repair period. However, Foster Coach Sales has offered to provide a loaner vehicle if needed. This situation highlights the importance of having a reliable backup system in place, especially when dealing with critical emergency services.
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