By EMILY FOWLER
For The Saratogian

BALLSTON SPA — Union Fire Co. No. 2 on Front Street has been ready to roll to emergency scenes since 1901.

They will be able to do so with a little more pride theses days, thanks to a donation from the Knolls Atomic Power Laboratory in West Milton. Knolls officials donated a 1989 Ford Collins ambulance to the Ballston Spa Fire Department.

What was once an ambulance will no longer be carrying patients but rather cones, signs, emergency scene tape, lighting and other items.

“We retrofitted it to become a fire vehicle,” said Brian Theriault, a 15-year member.

Before the donation, boundary tape, flares, vests, flood lighting and other necessities often were transported in the trunks of volunteers’ personal vehicles — or they did without. The new vehicle will mainly be used by fire company volunteers who help secure fire and accident scenes, directing traffic and emergency responders. Although the vehicle currently resides at the Union company, it will also be at the disposal of the Eagle-Matt Lee Co. No. 1.

Once the Knolls site’s primary emergency medical services vehicle, some work was needed to retrofit the ambulance to a fire police vehicle. The transformation was a project of teamwork for those involved, Union Fire Co. officials said.

“It’s rewarding to see a beautiful truck. It helps with morale,” Theriault said. “There really has been quite a difference. Now, we have pride driving to a call.”

Theriault, along with five other men, collaborated on the vehicle’s restoration.

The village of Ballston Spa chipped in $2,000 to help with the cost of the refurbishment, which went mainly toward paint and supplies, fire company volunteers said. Volunteers handled all the body work and paint work, lettering, sanding down and repairing of minor dents.

More than 400 hours of overtime was contributed during two months for the project. The vehicle is now worth about $15,000. Continued...

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“The firehouse is excited,” said Mike Aufiero, a 25-year Union volunteer. “Now, it looks brand new. It’s something to be proud of.”

According to volunteers, the company direly needed an upgrade.

The vehicle that was replaced was a 1973 truck that had been used for bread deliveries before the fire company acquired it. The 38-year-old, high-mileage vehicle had so much body rot that it wasn’t feasible to repair.

The recently-donated vehicle has a diesel engine with 15,000 miles on it.

Fire company volunteers hope the vehicle will easily reach 200,000 miles without worry of major repair. Knoll had primarily used the vehicle on site and to transport patients to Saratoga Hospital, only 8 miles away.

“It’s a win-win for taxpayers,” Aufiero explained. “For $2,000, you can’t go wrong. This is dependable; it will last for many years to come.”

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By EMILY FOWLER
For The Saratogian

BALLSTON SPA — Union Fire Co. No. 2 on Front Street has been ready to roll to emergency scenes since 1901.

They will be able to do so with a little more pride theses days, thanks to a donation from the Knolls Atomic Power Laboratory in West Milton. Knolls officials donated a 1989 Ford Collins ambulance to the Ballston Spa Fire Department.

What was once an ambulance will no longer be carrying patients but rather cones, signs, emergency scene tape, lighting and other items.

“We retrofitted it to become a fire vehicle,” said Brian Theriault, a 15-year member.

Before the donation, boundary tape, flares, vests, flood lighting and other necessities often were transported in the trunks of volunteers’ personal vehicles — or they did without. The new vehicle will mainly be used by fire company volunteers who help secure fire and accident scenes, directing traffic and emergency responders. Although the vehicle currently resides at the Union company, it will also be at the disposal of the Eagle-Matt Lee Co. No. 1.

Once the Knolls site’s primary emergency medical services vehicle, some work was needed to retrofit the ambulance to a fire police vehicle. The transformation was a project of teamwork for those involved, Union Fire Co. officials said.

“It’s rewarding to see a beautiful truck. It helps with morale,” Theriault said. “There really has been quite a difference. Now, we have pride driving to a call.”

Theriault, along with five other men, collaborated on the vehicle’s restoration.

The village of Ballston Spa chipped in $2,000 to help with the cost of the refurbishment, which went mainly toward paint and supplies, fire company volunteers said. Volunteers handled all the body work and paint work, lettering, sanding down and repairing of minor dents.

More than 400 hours of overtime was contributed during two months for the project. The vehicle is now worth about $15,000.

“The firehouse is excited,” said Mike Aufiero, a 25-year Union volunteer. “Now, it looks brand new. It’s something to be proud of.”

According to volunteers, the company direly needed an upgrade.

The vehicle that was replaced was a 1973 truck that had been used for bread deliveries before the fire company acquired it. The 38-year-old, high-mileage vehicle had so much body rot that it wasn’t feasible to repair.

The recently-donated vehicle has a diesel engine with 15,000 miles on it.

Fire company volunteers hope the vehicle will easily reach 200,000 miles without worry of major repair. Knoll had primarily used the vehicle on site and to transport patients to Saratoga Hospital, only 8 miles away.

“It’s a win-win for taxpayers,” Aufiero explained. “For $2,000, you can’t go wrong. This is dependable; it will last for many years to come.”

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