Yakima County Fire District #5 and the City of Grandview Fire Department have purchased a new EVI Transport Rescue, set to replace a 30-year-old ambulance. This upgrade addresses long-term safety and storage needs.
The two jurisdictions jointly purchased the new ambulance, which will serve residents in both areas. Their current ambulance is built on a Freightliner FL70 chassis, but the design is not user-friendly and creates safety concerns when loading and unloading patients. The new EVI Transport Rescue features a Ford F-550 4×4 Super Duty 2-Door cab, with a body configuration that offers more ergonomic compartment space while maximizing their storage space.
The departments provide Basic Life Support (BLS) medical services as well as fire prevention and protection services. The configuration allows the Rescue to transport patients and run both fire calls and motor vehicle accidents, equipping the District to handle any emergency call.
Chief Saenz appreciated how the process was straightforward and effective. “This is our first time working with True North Emergency. It has been a good experience, and through multiple meetings, we were able to smoothly dial in the details."
The rescue was purchased through Sourcewell, a cooperative purchasing program, making for a much more seamless process. This EVI Transport Rescue was a joint purchase by two jurisdictions that support each other: the City of Grandview Fire Department and Yakima County Fire District #5. The departments respond to 911 medical calls and also have an interstate running through the area.
Yakima County Fire District #5 remains the largest fire district in Washington, owning over one hundred pieces of apparatus, covering approximately 800 square miles, and protecting approximately 14,000 rural residents from White Swan to Grandview.
