The question
Why have I seen “Irondequoit Ambulance” on a bright red vehicle, when I know their ambulances are traditionally white and orange?
The answer
Irondequoit Ambulance, based at 2330 Norton St., Irondequoit, recently acquired the no-longer-used St. Paul Fire District ambulance, purchased by St. Paul Fire Association volunteers in 2003, from the emergency services organization across town.
“When we couldn’t get the manpower to run it (the ambulance), we decided to get out of the transport business,” said St. Paul commissioner Dan Cook.
The fire department had been providing ambulance service since 1946, “but it’s an ALS (advanced life support) world now,” Cook said. The St. Paul ambulance provided basic life support.
“It was a hard decision for us, but it was best for the community,” Cook said.
St. Paul is now in the midst of a three-year contract with Monroe Ambulance.
The purchase price of the ambulance was not revealed. Irondequoit Ambulance President Mary Ellen Jones did say, “It was a good deal for us.” She added that while they did have the lettering changed, to reflect the new owner, the company decided not to change the ambulance color due to the cost.
“And we were glad to keep the ambulance in town,” said St. Paul Fire Chief Don Macher.
What this means to you
Irondequoit Ambulance’s operations chief, Tom Kirchoff, said the new ambulance was put into service June 29. The benefit is that Irondequoit Ambulance, which has experienced steadily increasing call volumes, now has four vehicles in its fleet, so it has the ability to have three in service at all times, and one in reserve.
“But this is our first ambulance of a different color,” said Cihat Tekin, deputy operations chief.
Irondequoit Ambulance was established to provide ambulance service for two other Irondequoit fire districts, Ridge-Culver and Laurelton, which it still does. It also provides mutual aid to Irondequoit’s Sea Breeze and Point Pleasant fire departments, which each also have their own ambulances.
Irondequoit Ambulance, which “wasn’t sure of its financial picture” in the past, Jones said, is now “solidly in the black.”
St. Paul firefighters do still go out on high priority calls, Macher said, explaining that the biggest difference for the fire company is that its own ambulance is no longer transporting residents who need to go to a hospital.
Kirchoff said Irondequoit Ambulance is also prepared to assist St. Paul “with anything they may need.”
The question
Why have I seen “Irondequoit Ambulance” on a bright red vehicle, when I know their ambulances are traditionally white and orange?
The answer
Irondequoit Ambulance, based at 2330 Norton St., Irondequoit, recently acquired the no-longer-used St. Paul Fire District ambulance, purchased by St. Paul Fire Association volunteers in 2003, from the emergency services organization across town.
“When we couldn’t get the manpower to run it (the ambulance), we decided to get out of the transport business,” said St. Paul commissioner Dan Cook.
The fire department had been providing ambulance service since 1946, “but it’s an ALS (advanced life support) world now,” Cook said. The St. Paul ambulance provided basic life support.
“It was a hard decision for us, but it was best for the community,” Cook said.
St. Paul is now in the midst of a three-year contract with Monroe Ambulance.
The purchase price of the ambulance was not revealed. Irondequoit Ambulance President Mary Ellen Jones did say, “It was a good deal for us.” She added that while they did have the lettering changed, to reflect the new owner, the company decided not to change the ambulance color due to the cost.
“And we were glad to keep the ambulance in town,” said St. Paul Fire Chief Don Macher.
What this means to you
Irondequoit Ambulance’s operations chief, Tom Kirchoff, said the new ambulance was put into service June 29. The benefit is that Irondequoit Ambulance, which has experienced steadily increasing call volumes, now has four vehicles in its fleet, so it has the ability to have three in service at all times, and one in reserve.
“But this is our first ambulance of a different color,” said Cihat Tekin, deputy operations chief.
Irondequoit Ambulance was established to provide ambulance service for two other Irondequoit fire districts, Ridge-Culver and Laurelton, which it still does. It also provides mutual aid to Irondequoit’s Sea Breeze and Point Pleasant fire departments, which each also have their own ambulances.
Irondequoit Ambulance, which “wasn’t sure of its financial picture” in the past, Jones said, is now “solidly in the black.”
St. Paul firefighters do still go out on high priority calls, Macher said, explaining that the biggest difference for the fire company is that its own ambulance is no longer transporting residents who need to go to a hospital.
Kirchoff said Irondequoit Ambulance is also prepared to assist St. Paul “with anything they may need.”
