Boundary Ambulance gets new unit

Boundary Volunteer Ambulance went from having only one working ambulance last week to three. Repairs were made to one and the agency purchased another for $119,000.

This was the first time the department has purchased a brand new unit. The four-wheel drive ambulance is a 2008 with 3,000 miles.

“We had no choice,” said McGinnis. “It was too difficult to find a used one that wasn’t abused. Now we are in debt.”

Timing couldn’t have been better with back-to-back emergencies on the opposite ends of the county on Sunday morning — one in Naples and another in Copeland.

“We used the new unit on a non-code call, meaning it wasn’t a life threatening emergency because it isn’t fully stocked yet,” said BVA secretary Denise McGinnis. “We took supplies from the ambulance that needs a motor.”

The ambulance with a blown motor is expected to be fixed within two weeks, which will give the department four ambulances.

One of the three running units was placed at the Hall Mountain Fire Department, and the non-operating one is expected to be placed south of town after repairs are made.

For the new ambulance, BVA took $49,000 from its savings and borrowed the remaining $75,000.

“We could have paid cash for it, but then it would have depleted our money, which we need to pay bills with,” McGinnis said. “It is kind of stressful to have that money we have to pay out, but we will make it work.”

The department will pay $1,500 every month for 5 years on the new ambulance. It still needs to put lettering on the unit and a new heavy duty bumper on it that will cost around $1,400.

“If we hit a deer, elk or moose in it, the unit would be out of commission,” said McGinnis.

M.J. Automotive of Bonners Ferry is repairing the other ambulance.

“Michael Hamilton and Jeremy Rosco of M.J. Automotive have done an excellent job on our units,” McGinnis said. “Michael got up on his Sunday to look at our unit. It was done within four or five days.”

Boundary Volunteer Ambulance driver Michael Hamilton will attend a four-day class to become a certified ambulance mechanic.

It won’t cost BVA a penny.

“The guy that delivered our ambulance unit was so impressed with Michael that he said he will pay for it,” said BVA secretary Denise McGinnis.

After becoming certified, Hamilton will be the only ambulance mechanic in the region.