Storm Ambulance and Rescue Corps got a new $174,000 ambulance about 2 weeks ago, and one of its old ambulances will soon be headed to Guatemala to serve a poor community that doesn’t have one.
Dave Lenart, vice president of Storm Ambulance, said the new vehicle was put in service last Tuesday. Local rescue personnel will use the 1998 ambulance as the second due ambulance. We do get a number of second ambulance calls while the primary unit is already busy. We also face a mounting number of hospital diversions which means a hospital is full to capacity or cannot handle any more patients of a certain type, this makes us look for a hospital that will take the patient and means our ambulances are going out of town more frequently. It results in a decreasing of time an ambulance is available to take a call so two working ambulances have become a must for us, Lenart said.
We have had the new one for about two weeks now, and it has already gone out on about 80 calls, Lenart said. This is much more modern, and the biggest thing everyone loves is the in-dash GPS, so no one gets lost.
The 2008 ambulance was made by Life Line Emergency Vehicles in Iowa, and is the first to be completely purchased by the city of Derby, according to Lenart.
Normally, we would have to do fundraising ourselves to purchase one, Lenart said. The cost of the vehicles is continuing to skyrocket well beyond the ability of volunteers to train, deliver service, and raise funds. This new one will have a lifespan of about 10 years.
It has plenty of room to carry emergency equipment, including tools for extrications and water rescues, according to Lenart.
An Oxford-based business, DiGiovanni & Sons Construction, purchased Storm’s 1989 ambulance for $2,000, and is donating it. Arrangements are being made for its shipment via boat to Guatemala.
“That ambulance has just been parked here, but it runs very well,” Lenart said.
Storm Ambulance is donating about $2,000 worth of medical equipment, which will go to Guatemala with the ambulance. We had a lot of equipment and supplies that either have a shelf life expiration or have been phased out because new equipment is mandated to take its place, so if they can use it the equipment may help save a life there, according to Lenart.
Gino DiGiovanni Jr., owner of the construction business and a Derby resident, said he hopes the old ambulance will be on its way sometime this week. It will take about three weeks for it to arrive, he said.
DiGiovanni said he learned about the need for an ambulance in Guatemala from one of his employees.
I started looking about a year ago for an available ambulance, but most were about $10,000, which was cost prohibitive, DiGiovanni said. Storm Ambulance gave us a good price, and is filling it with valuable equipment, like backboards and neck braces.
Dennis Marroquin of Derby is president of an organization of residents who are natives of Guatemala. He said the ambulance will be going to San Cristobal, a poor community.
The group has been raising money to ship the ambulance; Marroquin estimated shipping costs at about $2,000.
We’ve had dances, picnics, and fundraisers, anything to raise money, he said.
According to Marroquin, emergency personnel in San Cristobal Guatemala, where the ambulance is headed have had to use a borrowed Jeep, or borrow other vehicles, to take people to the nearest hospital. The hope is that the availability of an ambulance well-stocked with medical equipment and supplies will help save lives, he said.

At approx. 1300 hours Engines 11, 16, Rescue 18 and FD9 were dispatched to Roosevelt Drive and Cullens Hill Rd for a MVA. Upon arrival units found a van that was struck by the rear of a tractor trailer after the trailer slide while going around a corner. The driver of the van needed to be extricated. Members of Rescue 18 removed the drivers side door and the patient was transported to Bridgeport Hospital. There were no other injuries.

The new Storm Ambulance vehicle arrived in Derby today. The new vehicle is a 2008 GMC 4500 chassis with a box made by Life Line Vehicles of Sumner Iowa. The dealer in CT was Eastford Fire and Rescue Sales of Eastford, CT. The vehicle is the Highliner series of Life Line ambulances. It will replace the 1994 Ford ambulance (FD-9). The vehicle has been purchased for the Storm Ambulance by the City of Derby.
Members of the Storm Ambulance would like to thank the various members of the board of Apportionment and Taxation, Board of Aldermen, Derby Finance Department and the staff of Mayor Anthony Staffieri for their patient work to make the delivery of the vehicle a reality. The total cost of the vehicle was $174,000.00.
It will hopefully serve the residents of Derby for 10 years. The new ambulance once it is inspected and registered will be first due to all medical calls.The current 1998 ambulance will be retired to a back up role as a second due ambulance.

On Sunday afternoon a box alarm was transmitted for a report of a chimney fire at 19 Laurel Ave. Dispatched were Engines 13, 14, 16, Truck 15 and Rescue 18. Units arrived to find fire showing from the chimney. Companies worked on scene for approx. 1 hour extinguishing the fire. The fire did not extend into the dwelling.

At approx. 1110 hrs a call was received reporting a motor vehicle accident at the intersection of Main St @ Minerva St. The initial report was a bus vs tractor trailer with injuries. FD-10, Rescue 18, E-11 and E-16 were dispatched. Upon arrival three vehicles were involved, all occupants were shaken up but no one was injured. A car involved was suffered heavy damages. FD units worked on scene for approx. 1 hour.

At approx. 1700 hrs box 518 was struck bringing a full assignment response and units were dispatched to the intersection of Harold Av. and George St. for a reported structure fire. Upon arrival it was found that a deck attached to the one story wood frame ranch was burning, it was held in check by FF Mark Guliano with a garden hose. A 1 1/2" line was used to dampen hot spots. Units worked the scene for approx. 1 hour. No injuries were reported.

High winds and recent heavy rain caused trouble for a motorist in Derby. A large tree branch broke in 40 mile an hour winds crushing a car parked in front of St Mary’s Church. Eng 11, Eng 16 and Rescue 18 were dispatched to the call. No one was in the vehicle at the time, however the incident took place right between the early morning Good Friday mass and the scheduled Events at the church for the rest of the afternoon Easter preparations. Units worked on scene for approx. 1 hour.

On December 12th 1948 the Storm Engine Company Ambulance & Rescue Corps took its first emergency ambulance call, thus beginning a 60 year history of caring for the sick and injured people of Derby and the lower Naugatuck Valley. A special event will be held on the anniversary date this year December 12, 2008. Many past members have moved on to other places or we have lost contact with them. We would like to complie a list of those members who we have not heard from in many years, if you were a member of Storm Ambulance, please sign in to our guestbook on this web site and let us know where you are and what you are doing. Also please watch this web site for more information on special events to commemorate our 60th anniversary.

At approx. 1829 hrs FD-10, Rescue 18, E-13 and E-16 were dispatched to Sentinel Hill Rd and McLaughlin Terrace for a two car head on MVA. Three patients were evaluated, one went to Yale New Haven trauma center, one went to Griffin Hospital and there was one patient refusal. Both vehicles were extensively damaged and air bags deployed in both vehicles. FD units worked on scene for approx. 1 hour.

Heavy rains and high winds kept fire crews vey busy. The storm began Friday night and by morning had dumped approx. 2 inches of rain. The Housatonic river already swolen by heavy rains and snow melt, rose flooding the Maples area of Shelton and the Pink House Cove area of Derby. Numerous basements were flooded. Later in the day winds near 60MPH caused numerous trees and branches to fall on power lines. Crews were called to Silver Hill Road, Water St. Dirienzo Heights, and Roosevelt Drive for wires and trees down.