THE NEW LONDON, CONNECTICUT, FIRE DEPARTMENT is having serious problems with their new ambulances. The department has two front-line units that answer calls plus a 9-yr.-old ambulance kept in reserve. The two ambulances are less than 2 years old, but they are both out of service with a continuing series of major engine problems. The Ford diesel engines have been leaking fuel into the crankcase, causing them to seize up. The city has been running the reserve unit full time and supplementing the other calls with fire apparatus responding to provide treatment until units from neighboring rescue squads arrive.
WTNH-TV Ch. 8 New Haven has a good video report and interview with the fire chief:
This problem with the Ford engines is not unique to New London. Several localities in the Northeast have joined in a class-action lawsuit agains the company for similar problems. The Day newspaper REPORTS:
And besides leaving fire officials and crews frustrated, the recent string of mechanical problems plaguing the ambulances, as well as a ladder truck, has led the city’s attorney to research possibly joining class-action lawsuits involving motor companies and manufacturers.
”Once we investigate those existing lawsuits we will make a decision whether or not to, if we can, join those lawsuits or seek our claim for lost income as a result of having ambulances down,” said City Law Director Thomas Londregan. “The city has not lost out-of-pocket money because of the warranty. Have we lost money for having an ambulance out of service? The answer to that is yes, but that has not been quantified.”
Fire departments and ambulance services are allowed to charge for their services, averaging about $500 per call. But because the ambulances are out of service, that money is being collected by other towns or ambulance companies that are called in to transport New London’s patients.
Fire Chief Ronald Samul said the failure of the ambulances has been “frustrating.” It has led the city to put out a bid proposal to replace at least one of the ambulances, he said.
