BUCKFIELD – Excitement ran high for the Buckfield Rescue Department Tuesday, as the staff eagerly awaited the arrival of their new $133,400 ambulance. The vehicle arrived around 3:30 p.m. having come from Specialty Vehicle Inc. in North Attleboro, Mass.

Lisa Buck, Buckfield Rescue Assistant Chief, said the most exciting thing about the new ambulance was the size. The wheel base is 168 inches compared to 136 inches on the present vehicle. Buck said, “Now we will have room to work around the patient.”

The 2006 Ford will enable rescue to answer two calls for ambulances in the future. Though Buck and Heather Richardson are the only full-time employees, there are now 24 volunteers and three people are currently enrolled in emergency training classes. Buck is pleased with the great response for volunteers.

The new ambulance is expected to be in service by the end of the month and the department will be able to conduct physician-requested transports as well as emergency service calls, according to Buck.

The ambulance was purchased with an estimated $32,500 from the ambulance reserve fund and a loan from the town. This was approved at the annual town meeting in June. Insurance payments from patients who are transported will be applied to the loan.