Thunder Bay city council is looking at a price tag of roughly $560,000 for four new ambulances it plans to buy this year.
When asked about the warranty at council Monday night, Superior North EMS Deputy Chief Ernie Kadikoff pointed out they vary for each vehicle.
“They normally come with a 3-year, certain number of kilometres, of which I can’t think of off the top of my head, but I can get that to you. Also a chassis warranty, and the paint on the body of that ambulance is guaranteed for the life of that ambulance,” says Kadikoff.
The Deputy Chief adds the price has gone up a bit due to technology changes.
As for the old ones, he says one vehicle has been working in the district, is over 10 years old, and pushing 250,000kms in mileage.
“The other three vehicles we are replacing are from the city’s fleet. All three of them are at the end of their life span. They are seven to eight years old, and all of those vehicles are over 250,000 to 300,000 kms,” says the Deputy EMS Chief.
He adds there are some options for the old ones.
“Normally the vehicles go through the city auction cycle, at the end of their life span. That’s the normal process. However, we do respond to requests from outside agencies to have them donated, and then we would bring that to council, and we would take that route,” says Kadikoff.
The $560,000 contract will be awarded to Crestline Coaches to supply the new vehicles. City official Mark Smith says the life span of a typical ambulance is six to nine years.
