New ambulances arriveAsk anyone who works for the Falcon Fire Protection District about its current status, and they will likely respond with some variant of ìthese are exciting times!îFor the first time in its 44-year history, Falconís fire department has the capability to provide ambulance services. Scheduled to start Dec. 1, two fully staffed and equipped ambulances will provide both Basic Life Support and Advanced Life Support emergency medical services and transport. The department has had ALS providers on each shift at each station, but now two fire stations will also have ambulance transport capability. A third fire station will have transport capability by March 2020.On Nov. 15, FFPD took delivery of two 2019 Ford Type 1 ambulances. (Type 1 refers to an ambulance that is mounted on a truck-style chassis.) Both vehicles are equipped with four-wheel drive as well as drop down chains for extra traction in severe conditions. The ambulances are equipped with the new Stryker Power Load System, which lifts and loads a cot (with patient) at the push of a button. The cots are rated to carry 750 pounds. In an email, FFPD EMS Division Chief Jon Webb said, ìThis is amazing because it will save us from potential back injuries from lifting.îOther features of these new ambulances include a built-in child seat in the patient compartment and extensive LED lighting for safety. There is also ample compartment storage space for emergency medical equipment, as well as firefighting gear for the ambulance crew so they are able to assist at fires. The entire vehicle can be raised or lowered to assist with patient loading.A third ambulance has been ordered with anticipated delivery in January 2020.Six new firefighter paramedics were sworn in at the Nov. 20 board of directors meeting. Each ambulance will be staffed by a permanently assigned firefighter paramedic and a firefighter emergency medical technician. The departmentís firefighter EMTs will be assigned to the ambulances on a rotational basis.The first two ambulances will be housed at Station 1 (at Meridian Ranch Boulevard and Stapleton Drive) and Station 4 (Capital Drive, north of Constitution). AMR is still under contract to provide county ambulance services, and they will continue to back up Falcon ambulance crews when needed.Falcon Fire Department: then and nowThe Falcon Fire Department has come a long way from its humble beginnings in 1975 as an all-volunteer fire department that first housed donated equipment in a former mule barn. At that time, Falcon consisted of a small number of homes, a school and abundant prairie shared by cattle and pronghorn antelope. Prior to the creation of the Falcon Fire Department, fire protection was provided by county firefighters who responded from a station near what is now Woodmen Road and I-25.Fast forward to 2019. As of press time, the department has 47 paid personnel (including line personnel and support staff), three staffed and two unstaffed fire stations and a variety of apparatus; including fire engines, water tenders, brush trucks, quick response vehicles and now ambulances. The Falcon Fire Protection District provides emergency services to more than 66,000 residents in the 113-square-mile fire district. In 2018, Falcon firefighters logged a record 2,665 calls for service ñ- a number that will be exceeded at the end of 2019.No one can tell what the future holds, but it is certain that the Falcon community will continue to grow, and its fire department will grow along with it.The members of the Falcon Fire Protection District wish everyone a safe and happy holiday season and a prosperous new year!Stay connected with the Falcon Fire Protection DistrictWebsite: http://www.falconfirepd.orgFacebook: Falcon Fire DepartmentTwitter: @FalconFireDeptNextDoor.com
