(2/7) The new Emmitsburg Ambulance Company
building is now officially open for business following the ribbon cutting and
grand opening on Jan. 27.
“We started working out of here just
before Christmas,” said Beth Ruppel, a volunteer with the company.
That followed a couple weeks of moving
equipment from the old station on South Seton to the new location at 17701
Creamery Road. Company members say the new location has excellent access to
Route 15.
“You don’t have to fight the red lights
and congestion,” said Keith Phelps, an Emmitsburg Ambulance volunteer.
Construction of the $2.3-million station
began in June 2006. Besides enlarged bays that can hold up to five vehicles and
equipment rooms, the new station also features a large public room that seats
380 people and has a commercial kitchen. It can be rented out for parties and
dances.
“We’ve already done a wedding reception
and a funeral,” said John Ruppel, an Emmitsburg Ambulance volunteer.
Some of the other features of the new
building include a repair shop for minor repairs on the ambulances, a
decontamination room, a room for all of the medical equipment the paramedics
use. On the second floor of the building are the bunkrooms, meeting rooms and a
weight room given to the company by the Emmitsburg American Legion and VFW.
“We will also be a disaster shelter as
soon as we get our generator,” Beth Ruppel said.
The former ambulance company building will
become a Frederick County Fire Museum and a National Fire Heritage Center that
houses records and documents from fire companies across the country.
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