Mayor Bob Donchez and city public safety officials unveiled a new ambulance to serve the city Aug. 7. At a cost of $147,000 with a trade-in of a heavily used 2009 ambulance, the new vehicle will slide into a front line role to help handle the 12,000 EMS calls received annually.

Praising public safety responders in Bethlehem, Fire Chief Warren Achey said, “As well trained as we are, we still need the proper equipment.”

According to EMS director Thomas Decker, the unit was placed into service in late June and has been performing very well. Decker said that the new unit maneuvers quite well on the many small side streets in Bethlehem. It will be primarily housed at the Dewberry Avenue station.

Features in the new AEV ambulance box mounted on a Ford E350 chassis include a more conveniently located narcotics locker, safety netting over supply and equipment shelves, a locking device to secure the gurney, and a new Lucas 3 CPR device which does automatic chest compressions.

City Business Administrator Eric Evans said funding came from surplus funds garnered through the state-mandated consolidation of the city’s 911 center into the Northampton County 911 center.