OTISFIELD – United Ambulance Service donated a 1997 Horton Type III ambulance to the Otisfield Fire Department on June 5.

The fire department will utilize the ambulance as a hazmat response vehicle, which will store and transport hazmat equipment to emergency incidents in and around the town of Otisfield.

The ambulance donation was appreciated, said officials, as the unit is replacing a 1984 Ford F-150 pick-up truck that has mechanical problems and was unable to transport all of the necessary hazmat equipment to a scene without making multiple trips.

The vehicle donated to the Otisfield Fire Department is the sixth ambulance to be donated to area departments in the past five years.

“We believe donating these vehicles assists our neighboring community agencies by enhancing their public safety initiatives and responses,” said Paul Gosselin, United’s executive director.

For more information about United Ambulance Service, visit online at www.unitedambulance.com.