Fentress EMS Preparing New Ambulances

After several delays, the Fentress County EMS has received two new ambulances and is working to equip them for use by Christmas.

Director Daniel Coleman said the vehicles will be replacing two ambulances in the fleet that have already gone to surplus. Coleman said getting these new ambulances will allow EMS crews to be much more flexible as they previously had to share the five vehicles that were available.

“Some of the parts that we need to convert the stretchers over into the new ambulances have been back ordered,” Coleman said. “They’re supposed to be here around the first of December. So once those get here, they get installed, I’m hoping to have them on the road at least by Christmas. So I’m hoping to give Christmas presents to the crews and to the county.”

Coleman said they cannot haul any patients in the ambulances until the vehicles are fully equipped and approved by a state EMS consultant. Coleman said the department will have better coverage for all the residents and visitors in the county once the ambulances come online.

“Our fleet now goes to eight,” Coleman said. “So we run seven crews essentially every day. We have four day crews and three night crews that can be called in.”

Coleman said there were no further issues getting the ambulances into the county after the budget for both were increased in August. Coleman said he is now turning his focus to two other ambulances in the department that are in need of repairs.

“I’m hoping that we can get the county and remount them or replace them,” Coleman said. “So that they increase and become better for the patients as well as the crews that’s running out of them.”