Cottonwood Ambulance and Rescue - Ambulance Catches On Fire

Rickey Stokes

Viewed: 3950

Posted by: RStokes
[email protected]
334-790-1729
Date: Aug 22 2019 11:07 PM

COTTONWOOD:    This afternoon Cottonwood Ambulance and Rescue was transporting the ambulance to Flowers Hospital to transport a patient.

In front of Dothan Civic Center the ambulance caught fire. Under the driver's seat was an electrical issue and was on fire.

Dothan Police and Dothan Fire responded to the scene. A Dothan Police Investigator drove up and the fire extinguisher in the CID units trunk was used to attempt to extinguish the fire.

Dothan Fire arrived on the scene and put water on the fire and finished making sure the fire was out.

The ambulance was unloaded into a pickup truck and Ferguson Wrecker towed the ambulance. The ambulance loss has been reported to the Insurance Company.

Last Year Cottonwood Ambulance and EMS responded to 686 calls in the 130 square miles covered by Cottonwood Rescue. In year 2019 Cottonwood Rescue has responded to 411 EMS calls. 

COTTONWOOD AMBULANCE and RESCUE NEEDS YOUR HELP  

In Houston County outside the City Limits of Dothan, during the year 2018, EMS and Fire responded to: 4,695 EMS calls and 2,631 Fire calls, making a combined total of 7,326 calls.

In 2019 EMS has responded to 2,787 EMS calls and 1,512 Fire calls in the county and municipalities, with exception of the city limits of Dothan. These figures cover January 1, 2019 through July 31, 2019.

The volume of calls answered by the EMS and Fire, outside the corporate city limits of Dothan, equal 48% to 49% of the volume of calls answered by Dothan Fire Department.

Dothan Fire Department, Fire Chief Larry Williams, has never refused to assist any Houston County Department or other department when requested to. Dothan Fire Paramedics are almost daily intercepting some out of county ambulance to assist with advanced life support.

HOW CAN YOU HELP?

Donations are needed. They can be mailed to Cottonwood Rescue, 57 Granger Street Cottonwood Alabama 36320.

During Hurricane Michael the modular unit ambulance was totaled. FEMA would not pay, that is government here to help you! Ozark Fire loaned a ambulance to Cottonwood they were going to sell. Cottonwood Rescue was able to purchase the ambulance from Ozark and is in use today.

Until things can be worked out and money found to purchase another ambulance, Cottonwood Rescue has one ambulance in operation.

In 2018 when Hurricane Michael totaled a ambulance, a 2018 new van ambulance was looked at to purchase. A new van style ambulance, Ford, was $ 94,616.00.

Cottonwood Ambulance and all 501 ( c ) ( 3 ) ambulance services that operate outside the City Limits of Dothan receive quarterly monies from Houston County which total $ 26,000.00. But price the equipment, stretchers, heart monitor, chair stairs, etc for a ambulance along with the insurance, and you will see that money does not go very far.

In fact one air conditioner is out at the building of Cottonwood Ambulance and Rescue. Financially Cottonwood Rescue has not been able to afford to repair that air unit.

Not crying the blues. Cottonwood Rescue is committed to the 130 square miles covered. The run territory goes from Highway 231 South to the Alabama - Georgia - Florida line. Cottonwood Rescue has a crew 24 hours a day 7 days per week.

You can help with your financial contributions. You can also help with your volunteering your time. The crew needs a "mother". Someone wanting something to do, be around people, and cook meals and have them ready for the crews. Someone to help around the station.

Anyone interested contact Rickey Stokes, 334-790-1729.

Yes, I am with Cottonwood Rescue. When the EMS closed, Nick Alford and myself got the EMS up and running. We have a great crew.

Why did I get involved? My daughter and grandson reside in the footprint area for Cottonwood Rescue. It is to far from Dothan for a ambulance to routinely respond. With 686  EMS calls responded to last year, the need is there.

So anyone who can financially help your help is needed. Anyone wishing to donate a ambulance, gives us a call.

BOTTOM AMBULANCE PICTURE   

The ambulance Cottonwood Rescue looked at purchasing after Hurricane Michael wiped one ambulance out is the last picture posted.  Other than the water bill and accounting services, the City of Cottonwood does not fund Cottonwood Rescue. Only the $ 26,000.00 from the Houston County Commission, donations and runs is where Cottonwood Rescue gets the money to pay bills.

And Cottonwood Rescue in 2018 just could not afford the purchase of the ambulance.

Is the need there? YES.

So anyone who desires to donate small to huge, call 334-790-1729. Anyone who wants to buy a ambulance, your purchase could save a life or lives.

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