A brand-new ambulance has arrived in Hay River.

The vehicle, which cost the town about $156,000, arrived on April 20 and was put in service the next day.

Fire Chief Ross Potter said he is most definitely happy to have a new ambulance for the fire department.

SA国际影视传媒淚t replaced a 1995 unit. The old unit was done,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淥ver 26 years, thereSA国际影视传媒檚 an awful lot of wear and tear that happens to a rig, and we were having lots of engine problems with it and that type of thing.SA国际影视传媒�

Potter said the main difference between the newer and older vehicles is reliability.

SA国际影视传媒淪o less chance of it breaking down in the middle of a call or anything like that,SA国际影视传媒� he said.

In fact, that actually happened with the old ambulance, he said. SA国际影视传媒淲e had batteries go dead in the old one while being on call. ThatSA国际影视传媒檚 not a good thing.SA国际影视传媒�

The new ambulance was built in Nova Scotia on the chassis of a Ford E-350 van. It was trucked across Canada to Hay River.

It is the first new ambulance for Hay River since 2014.

Potter said a new vehicle like this arrives basically empty of medical equipment.

SA国际影视传媒淥ur gadgets are pretty much portable, so we just moved everything from one ambulance to the other,SA国际影视传媒� he said, noting the inside of a new ambulance only comes with cabinetry and meters for oxygen.

The fire department operates two ambulances, and Potter believes they should be good for many years.

SA国际影视传媒淚n my opinion, the ambulances should be changed about every 20 years,SA国际影视传媒� he said.

Potter was asked whether two ambulances are enough for the town.

SA国际影视传媒淎t this point it is,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淲eSA国际影视传媒檝e had lots of occasions this year where weSA国际影视传媒檝e had both ambulances out at the same time.SA国际影视传媒�

The old ambulance will now be put up for public auction.

It is now out of service and sitting in the townSA国际影视传媒檚 public works yard.