Published: July 04, 2009 10:51 pm      

New Creek VFD awaits bids for new ambulance

NEW CREEK, W.Va. — The New Creek Volunteer Fire Department is waiting to receive bids for a new Ford F-450 4-by-4 to replace an aging ambulance it purchased in 2006.

The fire department was given approval by the Mineral County Ambulance Authority to purchase a new unit with up to $100,000 to be provided by the authority. The price of a new ambulance ranges from $100,000 to $180,000, according to New Creek Fire Assistant Chief Dusty Amtower. Within the past two weeks, the department has viewed four different ambulance manufacturers.

The current ambulance is the oldest in the county fleet, at 14 years, and had previously served in Ridgeley, Amtower said. Since being placed in service in New Creek, the unit has responded to several hundred emergency calls. It will go out of service within the next week but there will still be two ambulances covering the New Creek Valley. Ridgeley Volunteer Fire Department has offered to allow New Creek to use its second ambulance temporarily, until a new unit can arrive.

New Creek’s department will hold two of its larger fundraisers in the upcoming weeks. The annual carnival will begin Thursday and run through Saturday, opening at 6 p.m. each day. The annual parade will begin at 6 p.m. Friday at Reese Chapel Church and follow state Route 972 to end at the fire station. The annual water battle will be held July 12 at 11 a.m. The annual gun bash will be held Sept. 12. Tickets can be purchased from any member, at the fire station and various local businesses.

Firefighters are being trained on their new unit, Tower 38, which was delivered in early June. The apparatus will be placed in service after members finish training. A nationally accredited aerial operator class has just begun at the department. The class will go into different responsibilities of truck work. Anyone interested in viewing the apparatus may stop by the fire station.

For additional information, log on to http://www.nc38fd.com. The department offers membership for firefighting, emergency medical services, fundraising/administrative activities and ladies auxiliary.