Upgraded medic truck saves money

LYNNWOOD — To weather the tough economy, Snohomish County Fire District 1 is finding creative ways to save money.

The fire department recently upgraded an old medic truck instead of buying a new one, spokeswoman Leslie Hynes said. The truck was put into service about a month ago at the department’s busy Martha Lake station.

The upgrade cost the department $102,000, she said. A new vehicle would have cost $167,000.

The vehicle was built in 2003. Fitted to meet the latest safety requirements, the unit is expected to last another four years before it is put into reserve, Hynes said.

The truck’s computer system has been upgraded to keep up with current technology. The process of sending information to hospitals has become more computerized than it was in 2003, Hynes said. The chassis and patient treatment area also have been upgraded.

This is the first time the department has given new life to a medic vehicle. Two other units, also 2003 models, are expected to go through the same process before year’s end.

In Fire District 1, the average life span of a medic vehicle is five years, Hynes said. The life span depends on the kind of work the truck is doing and how busy it is, she explained. The department’s medic vehicles typically rack up 75,000 to 100,000 miles as front-line units. Medics at the Martha Lake station receive a lot of calls to vehicle accidents on I-5.

Officials are glad they found they are able to cut costs by performing upgrades, Hynes said. The department is preparing for a drop in revenue next year.

“We are still in the middle of the budget process, but we know that our revenues are going to be down,” she said.

Katya Yefimova: 425-339-3452, kyefimova@heraldnet.com.