LAKEPORT, Calif. – Sutter Lakeside Hospital gave the Lakeport Fire Protection District $20,000 in February 2012 to help them purchase an ambulance.

The Lakeport Fire District’s Board of Directors started a fund with this seed money to replace a 1988 model that had accrued 180,000 miles.

The district was able to purchase a refurbished ambulance from Iowa in September 2012.

“Our newly-acquired ambulance received a complete safety check and was given a green light to be placed into service,” said Lakeport Fire Chief Ken Wells. “You can hardly tell that it’s been refurbished. We’re real pleased with it. If not for Sutter Lakeside helping the fire district with funding, we wouldn’t have the quality of ambulance we have now.”

The Lakeport Fire Protection District now operates two front-line 911 ambulances and two inter-facility ambulances.

In 2012, the District answered 1,127 emergency calls and 975 inter-facility transports.

To date in 2013, the Fire District has responded to 741 emergency calls and 608 inter-facility transports.

“Sutter Lakeside Hospital works so closely with the Lakeport Fire District year-round,” said Siri Nelson, chief administrative officer at Sutter Lakeside Hospital. “Our hospital offers basic emergency services to the county, which means that we have a physician available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. We know how much our community depends on us to be there when they need us – and how crucial emergency transportation is in our county. We’re pleased that the Lakeport Fire District approached us about this investment opportunity.”