Guthrie Fire-EMS welcomes addition of two ambulances

Last week the Guthrie Fire-EMS Department welcomed the delivery of a set of twins. Twin ambulances, that is.

Weighing in at 13,992 pounds each, the two 2020 Ford F-450 4×4 Advanced Life Support ambulances, manufactured by Braun Industries of Van Wert, OH, were delivered to an anxiously awaiting group of firefighters.

The new units are state of the art with many safety features, including four-wheel-drive, four-point harnesses for firefighters in the rear of the unit caring for patients and an advanced electronic system to control the units’ on-board functions.

“One of the many reasons we chose the Braun Industries brand was the advanced crash testing conducted on the ambulance modules,” according to Guthrie Fire Chief Eric Harlow.

“They have taken their ambulance modules and crashed a full size pickup into them at highway speeds as well as rolled the module completely over to test it’s strength and safety. Being able to see these tests and the aftermath of them solidified our choice to purchase the Braun unit,” Harlow also added.

The two new ambulances will be stocked with emergency medical supplies and devices within the next few weeks prior to being placed into service.

All GFD personnel will also receive training on the units and their many features.

The two units will replace 2005 and 2006 ambulances that will be turned over to the Guthrie Public Works Department for reutilization.

The units were funded by a combination of an USDA Community Facilities Grant, City of Guthrie and Logan County EMS District I-1.