Bower Hill VFD began providing Advanced Life Support (ALS) care in 1982. The Dodge van was capable of this, but more room would be better. So, in 1985, the department bought a Type III ambulance with a little more working room. This ambulance had been built for another service that had been unable to accept delivery. It had one unique feature, at least for BHVFD. The battery switch disconnected the ground wire rather than the power wire.


This ambulance probably saw more responses in Bower Hill VFD service than any other vehicle the department has owned. When it was purchased, the department had become the ALS provider for the township, and this unit responded to more than 4,000 calls in its 10 years in front-line service.



In many ways, this was a nearly ideal ambulance for Bower Hill. Its size, power, patient compartment layout, storage capacity, ride characteristics and ease of driving were all just right.


The red stripe even matched the color on the existing equipment. The formula was a little different, but it was visibly the same. The lettering was gold leaf, with a white highlight and a black drop shadow, done by sign painter Charles A. Novak of McMurray, PA.