OTTAWA — For Franklin County EMS, it’s a case of cash before clunkers. County administrator Lisa Johnson said she’d like to buy a new ambulance now rather than wait until next year. She said Ford plans to stop building ambulances with diesel engines and go to gasoline-powered ambulances. That’s a concern, she said. Ambulances tend to sit with engines idling for long periods of time, she said. That doesn’t affect Diesel engines, she said. However, in the past, gasoline engines in ambulances have overheated or caught fire, she said. State EMS officials have advised local services to stock up on Diesel-powered ambulances now, she said. County commissioners are likely to vote on Johnson’s request this Wednesday. The ambulance box would be taken off the old ambulance and put on the new cab and chassis.
