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By Carey Reeder | Managing Editor

History was made for the City of Clanton on Feb. 20 as the first city-owned ambulance was delivered to the Clanton Fire Department to take a major step forward in public safety in the city. CFD firefighters showcased the capabilities of the ambulance to Clanton Mayor Jeff Mims and the Clanton City Council during their work session on Feb. 20.

Considering the two-year production schedule, the ambulance was ordered during the 2023 fiscal year to “meet the anticipated future needs of the residents of the city,” a post from the City of Clanton said. The addition of the first city-owned ambulance will complement the existing service with Regional Paramedical Services that will remain the primary transport unit for the city, giving the city two ambulances at the ready in case emergency situations should arise.

“We could not be more grateful for the Mayor, City Council and all of their support,” David Driver, Clanton Fire Department Fire Chief, said. “This was bought for the city. Our partnership with RPS has been great, and that partnership is going to continue, this just allows us to have a second ambulance dedicated to the city.”

The city will not have people staffed on the new ambulance right away. However, the CFD firefighters also serve as paramedics, so in the event it is needed firefighters can come off the fire engines and go aboard the ambulance allowing the city to have two ambulances in service if needed. Driver said an ambulance is pretty much an ambulance from the truck and box, but this specific ambulance has a Stryker Power Load System that can lift up to 750 pounds that makes it unique. The lift will be beneficial to calls where paramedics have to transport heavier patients with the system loading the stretcher directly into the ambulance.

Sales of surplus property, increased efficiencies in city operations and more strategic investments of city funds have generated significant savings and additional revenue for the city. The ambulance cost the city $297,000, but the improving financial condition of the city allowed it to be paid solely from the interest accumulated on the current investments of city funds. Mims also credited the economic development efforts in the city that continue to generate additional sales tax revenue through new and existing businesses, and the sale of surplus properties for its help in purchasing the ambulance. Mims and Driver also work together to obtain federal and state financial grants to defer a portion of the costs associated with providing critical services, like the ambulance, to residents of Clanton.

Moving forward, the next steps in increasing public safety in Clanton by the city is fully staffing all three fire stations in the city. Mims said that staffing the existing fire station facilities at Exits 205 and 212 with full-time firefighting and emergency medical technicians is a priority for the city. In 2021 the city started its partnership with RPS which allowed the full-time staffing of Station One in downtown. Fast forward three years, and there are 12 full-time employees, not including Driver, that allows the station to have four full-time employees at the station on all shifts.

The addition of the new city-owned ambulance and a new fire truck that is scheduled for delivery next month will allow the full-time staffing of Station Two at Exit 205 in south Clanton during the next budget year. After that, as soon as it becomes financially feasible, Station Three at Exit 212 will be staffed to respond to emergencies in north Clanton and along Interstate 65. The effort to get the fire stations fully staffed is necessary for the planned growth at each exit, and the rising number of motorists traveling on I-65 with more than 45,000 vehicles passing through the city limits each day.

“The goal is to continue adding to that and start staffing these outline stations to have better coverage,” Driver said. “That costs money, and you have to be competitive. You cannot pay a low salary and expect to get quality people or hardly anyone, and the city is competitive in pay and I thank the Mayor and council for that. They are really investing in the whole city, not just the fire department … We are definitely going in the right direction.”

Driver said the new ambulance should be read to enter service following the required inspections and certifications by the State of Alabama.