Palm Desert’s newest ambulance is state of the art emergency medical transportation that is also ahead of the curve when it comes to protecting the environment. Based at Fire Station 71, at Portola Avenue and Country Club Drive, the new compressed natural gas (CNG)-fueled ambulance is the first of its kind in the Coachella Valley and the United States.

Last year the City was confronted with the need to replace an aging diesel ambulance and medic unit. The City Council directed staff to explore the possibility of purchasing an ambulance powered by compressed natural gas (CNG), a fuel that burns much cleaner than gasoline or diesel and that has the added benefit of being domestically produced.

Because CNG-powered ambulances did not exist in the United States, staff worked with industry experts, and officials from the Riverside County Fire Department/CAL FIRE officials to determine that the most efficient and affordable way to create a CNG unit would be to modify existing ambulance components.

The City purchased a Frazer 14-foot patient compartment and a 2009 Ford E450 6.8L gasoline chassis, which were combined and modified over a six-month period in Texas. The resulting vehicle was delivered to Palm Desert in December. The finished ambulance was officially unveiled in January and immediately began responding to calls. Station 71 was selected as the ambulance’s base because of the many medical aid calls it receives, about 200 per month.

The ambulance was purchased using approximately $186,000 from City funds dedicated for firefighting and public safety. The City has applied for federal grants to defray its cost. For more information, please call 760-346-0611, ext. 326.