NEWTON FALLS, Ohio - A brand-new quarter-of-a-million-dollar ambulance could save lives in the Newton Falls area according to the local fire chief.

In a post on the Newton Falls Joint Fire District Facebook page, Fire Chief James Williamson is quoted as saying that a recently purchased ambulance will reduce the chance that a patient won’t reach a hospital due to mechanical failure.

The 2022 Ford 550 Osage ambulance replaces a 2014 model that officials say has more than 93,933 miles on it, has received numerous repairs in recent months and was deemed unreliable by the Fire District Board.

Earlier this week the Newton Falls Joint Fire District Board of Trustees approved the purchase of the new ambulance for $266,265.

By purchasing the ambulance outright, the district saved more than $30,000 in interest payments which will permit the district to purchase heart monitors for patient care, according to board member Justin Montgomery.

Board member Terry Wentworth said the district saved an additional $25,000 by purchasing a demonstration model from a local dealer.

In addition, the board says ordering a new model would have meant waiting for a delivery delay of 2025.

The district had set aside the money in an EMS fund from patient billing in anticipation of replacing the older ambulance.

According to board member Julie Stimpert, the district’s runs had significantly increased in 2022, placing additional stress on the ambulance service.