by Nick Delgado

Guam - In time for Fire Prevention Month, some pressure off the Guam Fire Department after getting notice over the weekend that the department will be able to lease new ambulances.

The incident involving the death of a newborn baby in Merizo has led to the appointment of a new fire chief and the lease of four new ambulances. "We have to get ourselves out of this precarious position where one or two break down at it could cost lives," said Governor Eddie Calvo. It's a decision to lease four brand new 2011 Mercedes Benz Spinter ambulances for about $10,000 a month for the next year. Mid-Pac Far East, LLC was the lowest bidder of three companies who will provide the units along with twelve months of maintenance.

Mid-Pac sales manager Mark Cruz said, "We really looked at our commitment to the community as a business and with the recent death of baby in Merizo we thought we'd try and at least submit something and it seems we were awarded."

This is the third attempt by GovGuam to lease medics, which always came out too costly. "The objective for us is to have ambulances on the road and ready for any potential emergency situation so we don't have repetitions of what happened just recently. As well as what has been going on for the past few years," the governor said.

Acting Fire Chief Joey San Nicolas said, "The emergency release is meant to be a stop-gap measure. You know, within 30 days we should have that measure in place. That means four new ambulances on the road responding to emergencies."

The government will spend about a total of $480,000 for the lease. San Nicolas says this provides a boost GPD needs to help his agency when existing units break down, saying, "With more ambulances it allows for a more flexible maintenance schedule to be able to rotate our ambulances one by one and maintain them properly."

San Nicolas says these units are in addition to the four ambulances being purchased with DOI funding. The Administration anticipates 13 ambulances servicing the entire island this time next year. As for a long-term solution, discussion are underway looking at the possibility of privatizing ambulance services altogether.

GFD has four ambulances for the entire island with another scheduled to come back online by the end of today.